The Temple College baseball team began their four-game series with No. 1 Weatherford College with a Wednesday doubleheader at Roger Williams Field.
The Leopards jumped out to an early lead in the opening game to clinch a six-inning win, 12-1. In the second game, the Coyotes scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to clinch the doubleheader split by way of run rule, 9-1.
Temple scored three runs in the top of the first. Andrew Ermis singled home Ryder Rutledge, Kade Davis singled home Lance Cantrell, and Peanut Brazzle drove home Ermis with a groundout to give the Leopards a quick 3-0 lead.
Kolvin Davis singled home Sage Sanders in the second inning to increase the Leopards' lead to four.
After a sacrifice fly landed the Coyotes on the board in the second, Brazzle singled home Ermis and Jackson Todd ground out scored Brazzle in the top of the third to make the score 6-1.
Temple scored six times in the top of the sixth to push the game into run rule territory. Rutledge' sacrifice scored Sanders, Ermis' double scored Kash Millar, Cantrell scored on an error, Brazzle's double scored Ermis, and Brazzle and Kade Davis scored on an error to cap the scoring.
Ermis, Brazzle, Sanders, and Kade Davis each had two hits for the Leopards, who belted 12 hits in the game.
Patrick Collopy pitched five innings for the win, having allowed one run on four hits, struck out four and walked three. Thomas Perez tossed an inning, allowed one hit and one walk.
Jax Marshall led Weatherford with two hits.
In the second game, the Coyotes scored two runs in the first and once in the second to take a 3-0 lead.
Sanders' sacrifice fly accounted for Temple's lone run, as Kade Davis crossed the plate in the fourth.
The Coyotes scored once in the fifth inning and five times in the seventh to end the game.
Mason Ashlock, Manny Salas, and Trace Mazon homered for Coyotes, who had 16 hits in the second game.
Noah Bentley dealt 5 1/3 innings for the win, having allowed a run on five hits, struck out seven and walked two. Trent Collier pitched 1 2/3 innings and struck out one.
Kade Davis led the Leopards with two hits of Temple's five in the game.
The Leopards (11-12 overall, 4-2 NTJCAC) and Coyotes (19-4 overall, 4-2) will complete the four-game series with a Saturday doubleheader on Saturday at the Danny Scott Sports Complex.