LA VERNE, Calif. - Cal Lutheran dropped the first two of six crucial conference contests on the road Saturday dropping 7-5 and 8-0 decisions respectively to La Verne. The losses drop CLU from its spot atop the SCIAC standings to third place only a half-game behind the Leopards.

Box Score (Game One): ULV 7, CLU 5 - F
Box Score (Game Two): ULV 8, CLU 0 - F

La Verne 7, Cal Lutheran 5 - F
Tied 3-3 through seven innings, the Leopards scored four in the eighth capped off by a bases clearing triple from Sergio Muñoz off of CLU closer Byron Minnich. Cal Lutheran loaded the bases to start the ninth inning and following an RBI-double from Danny Gallinot cut the deficit to 7-5 with one out in the frame.

La Verne brought in reliever Sean Fasig who notched back-to-back strikeouts to leave the game-tying run stranded at second base. The ULV pitching staff struck out 12 Kingsmen and walked only four while the CLU hurlers issued 10 free passes.

Cal Lutheran tied the game on three separate occasions following a third inning RBI-groundout by Richard Michelin, a fourth inning RBI-single by Darren Iacono and a seventh inning defensive miscue by the Leopards.

CLU's Nick Boggan led all players going 3-for-4 at the plate. Iggy Wagner notched a couple of base hits and Gallinot's run-scoring double was the only Kingsmen extra base hit of the game.

ULV leadoff hitter Jacob Ludvik drew four walks and scored twice while teammate Sergio Muñoz had the clutch triple and went 2-for-5 with four RBI in the win.

La Verne 8, Cal Lutheran 0 - F
La Verne received a complete game shutout pitching performance from Matt Baudino, who allowed just five singles while striking out 10 batters for the victory. First inning RBI-singles from ULV teammates Sergio Muñoz and Cody Hazel would provide more than enough run support needed for the victory.

The Leopards tacked on two more runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings with the aforementioned Leopard hitters and George Hanna drove in two runs apiece.

Wagner and Nicholas DellaValle accounted for four of CLU's five hits and all three stolen bases. Starting pitcher Peter Ciaramitaro provided his fifth quality start of the season going six innings allowing five runs (two earned) and struck out seven batters. He has gone six or more innings in each of his seven starts this year.

Cal Lutheran (15-9, 9-4 SCIAC) will host La Verne (15-9, 10-4 SCIAC) on Sunday, Mar. 27 at 2 p.m. Tomorrow's contest is a make-up game after Friday's scheduled date was rained out.