The Temple College Leopards headed to Vernon on Saturday to take on the Vernon College Chaparrals in the continuation of their conference series.

Vernon won the doubleheader, taking game one in five innings, 11-1, and dropping an 18-16 slugfest in game two.

Lance Cantrell's solo homer in the top of the fourth inning tied the score at 1-1. It was the lone hit of the game for the Leopards.

Three Temple errors resulted in five of 11 runs scored being unearned, as the Chaparrals scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and five more in the fifth to end the opening game in run rule fashion.

Tobin Eschief took the loss for Temple, as he pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowed six runs (one earned) on five hits, walked three and struck out three. Wade Denton pitched 2/3 inning of relief, allowed five runs on four hits, and walked two.

In game two, Temple jumped out to a 4-0 lead and led 6-1 in the bottom of the second when Vernon scored six times to lead going into the third, 7-6.

The Leopards got the equalizer in the top of the fourth before the Chaparrals put up four runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 11-7.

Temple scored single runs in the fourth, fifth, sixth innings, and four times in the seventh to take a 14-10 lead.

Vernon scored six times in the bottom of the seventh inning and held Temple to two runs over the final two innings to secure the doubleheader win.

Andrew Ermis, Peanut Brazzle, and Kade Davis homered in the game.

All nine starters for Temple recorded at least one hit, with Kade Davis, Sage Sanders, and Hunter Baros having collected three hits each, and Cantrell and Jackson Todd each having contributed two hits. Baros had three doubles and Cantrell reached twice on two-baggers.

Ermis and Kade Davis both had three RBI, while Brazzle and Jackson Todd drove home two runs each.

The Leopards (12-17 overall, 5-7 NTJCAC) will face North Central Texas College (8-20 overall, 2-6 NTJCAC) beginning on Wednesday with a noon doubleheader at the Danny Scott Sports Complex.