THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - In a hotly contested battle of second place teams in the SCIAC, Cal Lutheran came up just short against La Verne falling 1-0 at "Sparky" Anderson Field in what is likely the final game of the 2011 season and in the career of six graduating seniors.

Box Score: ULV 1, CLU 0 - F

Windy conditions, stellar pitching and solid defense throughout made it difficult for both the Kingsmen and Leopards to put runs on the scoreboard. CLU was held scoreless for just the second time this season, both of which came at the hands of ULV.

Cal Lutheran pitcher John LaMoure got off to a hot start by retiring the Leopards lineup in order through the first three innings. He issued three walks including a leadoff base on balls that would eventually decide Saturday's outcome.

La Verne's Jason Muñoz was the only player to record multiple hits and after Jacob Ludvik advanced into scoring position he supplied the game-winning RBI-double in the sixth inning.

LaMoure was able to prevent any further damage in the frame and in total threw 6.1 innings, striking out a pair of Leopard batters while allowing only the solitary run. The lefty surrendered only two hits, both to lefty Jason Muñoz, while not allowing any to right-handed batters (0-for-13).

It was smooth sailing for counterpart Mark Larini until a two-out third inning triple ripped to right-center field by Trevor Koons provided the first hit of the game by either squad. On the ensuing at bat speedster Iggy Wagner was unable to beat out a ground ball to the shortstop ending the inning.

Larini was able to strand Kingsmen on the base paths and get out of several jams by holding the Kingsmen to hit just 1-for-13 with runners on base and 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. CLU left two runners on base in the fourth, two more in scoring position in the fifth and the bases loaded in the eighth.

Wagner and John Leal both laid down one-out bunt singles in the eighth inning, and K.C. Judge worked a full count walk with two outs to load the bases. La Verne's Matt Baudino made only his second relief appearance this season and struck out senior Richard Michelin to preserve the lead.

La Verne had high hopes of widening its lead following a ninth inning leadoff double by Cody Hazel. Pinch runner Matt Ashby advanced to third on one wild pitch and nearly scored on another.

A breaking pitch well outside scooted away towards the first base side when catcher Colin Gray recovered tossing a run-saving flip to a diving Byron Minnich who unknowingly tagged out Ashby at the dish.

Minnich came on in relief and tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, striking out three batters. Today's appearance was the 61st of his career tying him for the Cal Lutheran program record with former teammate Robbie Selden (2007-10).

Unfortunately for the Kingsmen faithful it did not matter as Baudino sat down the side in order in the ninth to end the game. He was responsible for the previous shutout of Cal Lutheran earlier this year (March 26) tossing a complete game, five-hitter while striking out 10 batters.

This contest marks the final home game for six Kingsmen seniors: Judge, Michelin, Travis Dadigian, Ian Durham, Danny Gallinot and Colin Gray. Four of the six played in today's game with Durham having earned the win in Friday's game against Pomona-Pitzer and Gallinot out due to injury suffered against Redlands on April 16.

Cal Lutheran finishes the season 25-15, 19-9 SCIAC and third place in the final conference standings. The Kingsmen will wait to see if they receive an at-large berth into the NCAA tournament which will be announced on Monday, May 16.