TYLER, Texas — Mark Jebbia was solid on the mound and the University of La Verne baseball team held a 4-1 lead after six and a half innings, but late game miscues led to a 7-4 loss to Trinity (Texas) on Saturday at Irwin Field.
La Verne will face No. 17 Linfield in an elimination game at 11 a.m. PDT tomorrow.
The Tigers took advantage of two errors, three wild pitches, and three walks by the Leopards in the eighth inning to score five runs on just one hit and grabbed a 7-4 lead.
Jebbia was perfect through four innings and finished his day with two runs allowed in six innings.
The Leopards were in control most of the game but will rue their missed opportunities in the fourth and the seventh innings.
The Leopards grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth with a bases-loaded walk with just one out and was threatening to break the game wide open. But the next batter grounded into a double play, cutting the rally short.
Then after taking a 3-1 lead on a fielder's choice RBI in the top of the seventh, the Leopards loaded the bases again with an infield single with no outs. La Verne worked one more run with a walk, but grounded into two fielder's choice at home plate and ended the inning on a fly out.
Tyler Watkins went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored to pace La Verne's offense. Andrew Douglas and Zach Quinones each had two hits.