Nate Rodriguez, Sports Information Intern

Demorest, GA – The Leopards flew east for Piedmont University's Early Spring Tournament this weekend, losing a hard-fought 9-7 battle against the Lions on Friday.

The boys in green and orange opened up with a three-run top of the first inning, but Piedmont answered back with two of their own. By the end of the third, the score was tied 4-4.

In the bottom of the sixth, Piedmont manufactured two runs after a leadoff walk and single. La Verne chipped away at a run in the top of the seventh, plating Benny Vogel who hustled around from first on a defensive error. First-year infielder Aiden Salcedo drew a pinch-hit, two-out walk to extend the top of the eighth. Jack Janes earned a pinch-hit opportunity of his own just after and drew another walk, followed by a hit-by-pitch to shortstop Anthony Salcedo. The Leopards cashed in two runs on Luke Garcia's fourth double in three games to take a one-run lead into the bottom half of the eighth. The Lions managed to score three, and the Leopards went down quiet in the ninth.

Friday's contest marks the third time the Leopards have scored at least seven runs in just five games. La Verne will have a Saturday, Feb. 18 noontime (EST) game to look forward to against Wilmington College (Ohio).