CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Pomona-Pitzer baseball team came back in the top of the ninth to defeat Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opponent La Verne 16-12 on Tuesday afternoon at Ben Hines Field.

Junior David Gerics picked up the win to move him to 7-0 on the year as he only needed one inning of work to pick up the victory.

The Sagehens jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start the game in the top of the first. Senior Simon Rosenbaum started out the scoring with a single through the left side that brought home junior Tanner Nishioka and senior Kevin Brice. The Leopards walked home a run with the bases loaded before sophomore Matt Omori singled down the right field line to plate two more Sagehens in Rosenbaum and sophomore Cade Hulse.  Senior Billy Morales then reached on a fielder's choice that scored sophomore Kevin Jordan on a throwing error.

Pomona-Pitzer added another run in the top of the second as Hulse hit an RBI single to right field to score Rosenbaum to extend the lead to 7-0.

La Verne answered with a big inning of their own in the bottom of the second as they scored five runs on a three-run home run, a RBI double and a RBI single to cut the lead down to 7-5.

The Leopards hit two home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo shot by Ben White and a three-run bomb by Dan McDonnel to take a 9-7 lead over the Sagehens.

Pomona-Pitzer came back to tie the game at 9-9 after a RBI fielder's choice by sophomore Adam Hinthorne in the top of the fifth and a RBI single by Rosenbaum in the top of the sixth.

La Verne scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth as McDonnel tripled to center to score Anthony Gonzalez and McDonnel would then score on a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt to give the Leopards an 11-9 lead.

The Sagehens came back to answer yet again in the top of the seventh as Omori and Brice connected on RBI singles to tie the game at 11-11 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

The Leopards went on to reclaim the lead once more in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI single to right field to take a 12-11 lead.

Pomona-Pitzer responded with their backs against the wall with a huge five run inning in the top of the ninth. The Sagehens strung together some good at bats and scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Brice that scored freshman Andrew Phillips. Pomona-Pitzer took the lead as Rosenbaum singled through the left side to score two runners and Hulse followed that up with a triple to right center to plate two more as the Sagehens held a 16-12 lead.

The Sagehens held off the Leopards in their final at bats as they complete the comeback and steal a win in their final game of the season. Pomona-Pitzer ends the season with a 20-19 record and 13-15 in conference play.