WALLA WALLA, Wash.- Drew Vannaman doubled and scored a run, Teague Conder added a hit and two RBI but it wasn't enough as the Whitman College baseball team opened the inaugural Bud Kight Memorial Invitational with a 12-8 loss to La Verne on Friday night.
Chase Sliffert and Cameron Slessor led the Leopards at the plate. Siffert had three hits and one RBI and Slessor posted three hits including a double to go along with four runs scored.
Julien Hernandez did not factor in the decision after working a strong five complete innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits before being lifted for Rylan Burigsay to start the sixth. Burigsay was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs in his one inning of work. Sean Holt earned the win, tossing six complete innings while allowing two runs on only four hits.
After two scoreless innings to start the game, La Verne scored the game's first run in the third but the Blues responded with two in the bottom half of the inning. The first three Whitman hitters reached base as Holt walked both Vannaman and Runyan sandwiched around a Parker single. With the bases loaded, Conder knocked in a pair of runs to put the Blues up.
After evening the game in the fourth, La Verne took advantage of Whitman relief pitching to the tune of six runs over the sixth and seventh innings. Anthony Salcedo's two-run double provided the offense in the sixth and Manuel Munoz cleared the bases with a double one inning later, recording three RBI on the play to lift the Leopards to an 8-2 lead.
The Blues did provide some excitement though in the bottom of the ninth. Runyan delivered a bases-loaded triple, then scored on the next at bat off a Conder base hit. Later, with runners in scoring position,
Leo Rivera singled to tack two more runs on the board and, all of a sudden, the Blues had the tying run in the hole. La Verne put the finning touches on Whitman however, recording the final strikeout to hold on to the win.
The Invitational continues on Saturday with Whitman facing La Verne at 12:00 p.m. followed by the Blues and Leopards squaring off once again at 3:00 p.m.
