The Temple College Leopards baseball began its second North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference series of the 2026 season on Thursday as they took on the North Central Texas College Lions in Gainesville.

After a tough start in game one, the Leopards bounced back in game two for the doubleheader split.

NCTC took game one, 7-0, while the Leopards won game two, 6-4.

The series will continue with a doubleheader on Saturday at the Danny Scott Sports Complex, with first pitch at noon.

In the opener, the Lions scored twice in the first inning, scored four runs on a grand slam in the second inning, and one run in the sixth inning.

Chase Fricke, Cameron Bartz, Kade Davis, Peanut Brazzle, and Wade Stallones had hits for Temple in the opener.

Peyton Reynolds picked up the loss on the hill for the Leopards. He pitched five innings, allowed six runs on five hits, struck out four and walked three. Zion Chen pitched an inning, allowed an unearned run on one hit and walked one.

Down 1-0 in the top of the third inning of game two, the Leopards rallied to take a 2-1 lead. TC added a run in the fifth inning and two in seventh to extend the advantage to 5-1.

NCTC rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh before the Leopards put an insurance run on the board in the top of the eight and held NCTC scoreless in the final two innings.

Davis collected three hits, and Stallones and Kanyon Millar picked up two hits each.

Thomas Perez pitched 6 1/3 innings for the victory. Perez allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits, struck out seven and walked three. Landon Miller walked two in 1/3 inning, and Carson Henderson picked up the save with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, having allowed two hits and struck out one.