The University of La Verne dropped an 8-6 verdict to No. 9 Kean University in the second of two contests between the schools on Saturday at Arce Field in Claremont.

A five-run sixth inning for the visiting Cougars proved to be difference as they posted seven hits in the frame and held off a late La Verne rally en route to salvaging a split in their two contests with the Leopards.

Kean opened the top of the sixth with five consecutive singles which plated two runs to pull ahead 3-2.  The Cougars led 4-2 when a Leopard throwing error followed by an RBI from Tyler Smarslok added two more runs.

Trailing 6-2, La Verne edged closer with three runs in bottom of the sixth as an RBI single from Jared Hovsepian along with consecutive errors by the Cougars pulled the Leos within a run.  But Kean, ranked No. 9 in the latest D3baseball.com Top 25 Poll, extended its lead in the top of the seventh by adding a pair of runs on two hits and a Leopard error for an 8-5 advantage.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Leopards were down to their final out when pinch hitter George Hanna hit an RBI single to score George Holland from second base to get within two runs at 8-6. 

However, with runners on first and second, the Leopard rally came to an end when pinch hitter Nick Bergara's grounder led to a force play at second base to conclude action as the Cougars escaped with the win.

Both Kean and La Verne recorded 12 hits on the day.  The Leopards were upended by three errors which led to two unearned runs.

La Verne continues action Sunday when it takes on North Park at 11:00 am followed by a 3:00 pm matchup with Ithaca.  Both games will be placed at Mazmanian Field on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.