The Temple College baseball took to the road on Wednesday as they played a mid-day doubleheader against Hill College to continue their journey through the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference schedule, beginning a stretch of 12 games against teams in the Region V playoff chase.
Hill's offense was tough to overcome as they belted five homers on their way to a doubleheader sweep.
Scores of the twin-bill were 13-3 (six innings) and 9-1 (seven innings).
Temple (27-18, 13-9 NTJCAC, fifth place) got solo homers from Kade Davis and Chase Fricke, as well as an RBI single from Kanyon Millar in the first three innings.
The Leopards led 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh before Hill posted 13 runs over the next four-plus innings.
Hill (29-13, 14-8 NTJCAC, fourth place) received homers from Chad Pantuso, Dryden Fuoco, Trent Thompson, and Myles Hammonds, with Fuoco driving in four runs to lead the Rebels.
Landon Karrh went five innings to earn the win for Hill, having allowed three runs on five hits, struck out four and walked two. Cayden Schmidt pitched an inning and maneuvered his way around a four-walk sixth inning.
In the second game, Thomas Perez got the start and pitched six solid innings. Hill's offense scored three times in the third and twice in the fifth, as Perez scattered eights hits, struck out five Rebels and walked two.
Jeziel Serrano went 3-for-4 with a double, homer and five RBI to lead the Rebels' offense in the second game.
Evan Sanchez pitched seven innings of four-hit baseball, having allowed solo homer to Fricke in the seventh for his only blemish. Sanchez walked three and struck out one.
Grayson (19-5), MCC (17-5), Weatherford (13-7), Hill (14-8) and Temple (13-9) have separated themselves from the pack, with Cisco (8-12), Vernon (7-17), Rangers (7-17), and NCTC (2-20) chasing the quintet attempting to clinch the top four spots in Region V North's Postseason Tournament. Four games separate the packs with between 10-12 games remaining for each team.
Temple will host Hill on Friday afternoon in doubleheader action at the Danny Scott Sports Complex starting at noon.