The University of La Verne baseball team finished 2-2 at the Arizona Desert Classic after splitting the final two contests against nationally-ranked teams from the Northwest Conference over the weekend in Anthem, Arizona. 

The Leopards rallied to top #18 George Fox University 11-8 on Saturday before falling to #25 Pacific Lutheran 13-4 in the finale on Sunday.

La Verne trailed George Fox 8-6 with two outs in the ninth when Mike Surina hit a 2-run double to score Jason Munoz and Jon-Michael Hattabaugh to tie the contest at 8-8.  Surina scored  the go-ahead run scored when GFU walked the bases loaded, followed by a hit batsmen .  The final two runs scored on an error at second.

The Leopards (2-3) were not as fortunate against Northwest Conference preseason favorite Pacific Lutheran, which improved its record to 7-0 on the season.  The Lutes scored in double digits in each of their four games in Arizona.

La Verne will commence SCIAC action this weekend as it opens against Redlands in a road contest on Friday.  The two teams will meet in a doubleheader Saturday at Ben Hines Field.