LA VERNE, Calif. -- La Verne used a 6-run outburst in the fifth inning to blow open a 5-2 game with an 11-2 and eventually a 13-6 non-conference win over Azusa Pacific in the Cougars' regular-season finale.

The Leopards avenged a 2-1 setback to the Cougars on March 19 in Azusa and hand the Cougars their second straight defeat heading into next week's NAIA Region II Playoffs in Santa Clarita, Calif. In the first round of the double-elimination tournament, third-seed Azusa Pacific plays second-seed Biola Tuesday (May 6) at 11 a.m. at Reese Field on the campus of The Master's College.

After Cougar starter Brad McKinney, who was making his first appearance on the mound after battling a finger injury for the past 3 weeks, allowed just 2 base runners in the first 2 innings, Azusa Pacific took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Robert Guiles drove in Derek Wholers with an RBI single.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Leopards roughed up reliever Chad Clark in the bottom of the third for 3 runs to take a 3-1 lead they would not lose. Clark induced both Justin Brown and Adrian Reyes to fly out to right to start the inning, but then he surrendered 2 consecutive walks, an RBI single, a third walk and then 2 run-scoring wild pitches.

Cameron Radonich belted his sixth home run of the season with one out in the fourth to bring the Cougars within 3-2, but the Leopards plated 2 more off of Clark in their half of the fourth and then 6 more in the fifth to put the game away with an 11-2 lead.

Alex Valadez hit his third home run of the season, a 3-run shot, with one out in the sixth to make it 11-5, but the Cougars never threatened again.

Clark suffered the loss to fall to 2-4 on the season. He surrendered 5 earned runs (2 hits, 4 walks) in just 1 inning of work. Robbie Lindsey continued his hot stick, going 3-for-5 with 3 singles. Valadez, Guiles, and Matt Dzama each had 2 hits apiece.

With the loss, Azusa Pacific drops to 26-22 overall. La Verne improves to 16-20.