MARSHALL, TX - The University of La Verne Leopards took on the Panthers of ETBU today in game 2 of the NCAA Super Regionals.

It was a fast start for ETBU, who took an early 4-0 lead out of the first inning.

In the fourth inning, the Leopards loaded the bases with one out, and Matthew Diaz took the plate. With a full count, a little Texas league blooper put the Leopards on the board, 5-1. Nathan Perry got the next RBI by scoring Malachi Francois and closing the gap, 5-2. Ryan Vosika then tapped in a base hit bunt that scored Logan Reese, 5-3. With Vosika at 1st, and Diaz at third, Coach Winterburn took an offensive time-out with a 2-1 count, and Anthony Salcedo at the plate with two outs on the board. Vosika took advantage and stole second, but a swinging strike-out ended the inning with two Leos left on base.

The Tigers responded with 2 more in the 5th, and the inning ended 7-3 Tigers after batter interference was called against the Leopards by the home plate umpire.

In the 6th, Logan Reese had a line drive home run, putting the ball over the wall in left, 7-4.  With one out, and the bases loaded, Miguel Espana was walked, and Diaz crossed the plate to make the game, 7-5. A baulk was called against the Tigers, and Garret Halbeisen crossed the plate, 7-6. Chase Siffert cracked the ball to center for a sacrifice fly, to score Vosika and tie the game, 7-7. Another baulk was called against the Tigers, moving Espana to third. A wild pitch got away from the Tigers, and Espana flew home to give the Leopards the lead. The inning ended with 5 runs and three hits, and the score 8-7 La Verne.

In the 7th, Reese chopped a grounder to the Tiger third baseman, moving Francois to third. Then a bit of chaos occurred when the home plate umpire called another baulk against the Tigers, and Fancois scored, 9-7 Leopards.

After 8 complete, the Leopards retained their lead as they headed into the 9th inning.

The Tigers showed early and bunted down 1st, but Benny Vogel scooped it up and flipped the ball to Munoz who tagged Massarini out at home for the first out. A fly ball to center put the Leopards one out away from the win. With a Tiger runner on 1st and 3rd, a blooper to right field scored the 8th run for the Tigers. But then the Leopards took advantage of a base running mistake by the Tigers, getting the tag and the final out to win the game, 9-8.

The Leopards play one final game in Marshall, Texas in the winner-takes-all NCAA Super Regional game 3 at approximately 12:45 PDT today, May 27th.

(photo curtesy of ETBU staff)