LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 18, 2008) –
It was like déjà vu at Anderson Field. Exactly a week
ago, Occidental walked away with a 10-inning 6-5 victory over
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Today's game did not need an extra
frame, but the outcome was the same, a walk-off win in Southern
California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action. The Tigers
tamed the University of La Verne Leopards, claiming a 5-4 victory.
Occidental held a 4-1 lead going into the
seventh, but needed a late surge to take game one of the three-game
series against ULV, also marking the first time Oxy has beaten La
Verne under the tenure of Head Coach Elliott Strankman.
Sophomore left fielder Glenn
Gray was a presence with both his bat and glove today
while junior rightie Matthew Jones tossed 7.0
strong innings for Oxy.
Gray was 2-3 at the plate with a pair of runs,
a pair of RBIs and a walk adding four putouts in the field. Jones
scattered four hits allowing just one earned run while striking out
one and walking two. He retired 10 batters on the ground and 10 in
the air, retiring the side in order in three of his seven innings.
Oxy jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when
Jason Jebbia drew a walk to start things off
before scoring on a double to right field off the bat of Gray.
The Leos tied things with an unearned run in
the top of the third on a two-out line drive to left field.
In the bottom of the fourth Oxy added a pair
of runs to regain the lead. Gray, who ended the top of the inning
with a diving catch in left field, walked to get things started. He
scored on an Adam Franks triple to center to take
a 2-1 lead. Franks then scored when Patrick
Sarkissian lined a double to left field, giving the Tigers
a two run cushion.
Gray connected for his third homerun of the
season, a shot off the top of the centerfield wall, in the sixth,
which gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead.
La Verne added a run in the seventh on a
homerun by Ken Longnecker. They tagged Kieran
Dohery for two more in the eighth to tie the game at 4-4.
The bottom of the ninth inning began with
Matt Andersen and Sarkissian both being hit by
pitches by Jimmy Wilfong. Grant Wheatley then took the ball to face
rookie outfielder Alex Bukac with no one
out. He quickly layed down a bunt, which Wheatley
threw wildly to third base, allowing Andersen to score the winning
run from second base.
Franks finished the day 2-4 with a run and an
RBI. Jebbia walked twice and Andersen was hit by a pitch in his
last two at bats. Andersen also added an assist when he threw out a
runner at third to end the eighth inning.
Tim Jolly, the ULV starter, tossed 7.0 inning
as well, also getting a no decision. Wilfong was credited with the
loss while Doherty earned the win, upping his record to 2-5 on the
season.
The Tigers improve to 12-18, 4-9 in SCIAC play
while the Leos fall to 17-14, 8-4.
Oxy and ULV will finish the season series
tomorrow in La Verne with the first pitch of
game one slated for 11:00 a.m.
