Through seven innings all seemed to point to a Leopard victory against the Tigers of Occidental College, but a seven-run eighth inning would propel the Tigers over La Verne in an 11-5 verdict Friday evening at Mazmanian Field in Walnut.

Building on last week's impressive all-around performance, La Verne jumped out immediately to put runners on and take a three-run lead over Occidental.  Nolan Henley would cross the plate on a Tim Ralston single that would put the Leopards up 1-0 and juice the bases.  Mason Stoltenberg would then reach on a fielder's choice allowing Ralston and George Hanna to help give La Verne a 3-0 advantage. 

The Leopards would add a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth giving La Verne starter Kevin Knight a five-run cushion.  Henley would lead off the inning with a single up the middle and later score on a liner down the right field line from Nick Bergara.  Stoltenberg would once again reach on a fielder's choice scoring Bergara to go up 5-0.

Knight was solid through seven innings allowing just one run heading into the eighth but would run into trouble after Occidental strung together four straight hits to come within two runs at 5-3.  Knight would exit the game with two runners on and one out but the Leopard bullpen would fumble the two-run lead getting tagged for another three hits resulting in another four runs, three of which belonged to Knight.  JC Barcelo would come into relieve Brett Early but not before Occidental jumped ahead to take an 8-5 lead.

Occidental would go on to ace the final frame holding the Leopards without a run and tacking on another three insurance runs in the top of the ninth in handing La Verne an 11-5 defeat.  Bergara led the Leopard offense with his 2-4 day.  Henley crossed the plate twice for La Verne.

La Verne (18-10, 12-7 SCIAC) is now tied with Occidental for third place in the SCIAC.  Both teams will square off in a doubleheader tommorow beginning at 11:00 am in Los Angeles.