LOS ANGELES -- Josh Cohen pitched another gem, going all nine innings with 10 strikeouts, as the Occidental baseball team held off La Verne 5-4 in Game 1 of a three-game series on Friday.

The Tigers and Leopards are back in action on Saturday in La Verne for a doubleheader.

Oxy's record improves to 15-9 overall and 9-4 in SCIAC play.

La Verne falls to 16-10 and 7-3.

Cohen, who has been rock solid as Oxy's Friday starter this season, pitched his second complete game of the season, improving to 5-2. After giving up just one earned run, his ERA is down to 2.28 overall and 1.18 in SCIAC play -- the second best average in the league.

Joey Garza singled in a run and then Bryan Smith hit a three-run homer as Oxy put up four runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Smith finished the game 2 for 4 at the plate. 

Oxy's Antonio Andrade, who went 2 for 2, got the big hit with a single to left in the eighth that scored Jake Fredickson for Oxy's fifth run.

Dean Abramson went 1 for 2 for the Tigers.

Jakob Thomas and Christopher Perez each went 2 for 4 for La Verne.

Christopher Arcos was charged with the loss.