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PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Lafayette rallied from an early five-run deficit to send the game to extra innings before Maryland-Eastern Shore (UMES) claimed a 7-6 final in eight innings.

The Hawks (4-3) scored five runs on four hits in the second. Samantha Casarez singled in the first run. With the bases loaded, Lafayette starter Bryn Gornick struck out the next batter for the second out of the inning. Gornick hit a batter to force in the second run. Allison Anderson singled in two more, prompting Lafayette head coach Jexx Varner to make a pitching change and bring in Kristyn Marinelli. The hosts ran the lead to 5-0, scoring on one of three Leopard errors on the afternoon.

The Leopards put two runs on the board in the fourth. With two outs in the inning, Maddie Wensel (3-for-4) roped a single to left. Miranda Skurla followed with a run-scoring double. Rebecca Dvorak singled in Skurla as Lafayette closed the gap to 5-2.

Trailing 6-2, Lafayette scored three runs in the sixth inning. Dvorak had an RBI-groundout before Marinelli's (2-for-3) two-run blast brought Lafayette with one, 6-5.

In the top of the seventh, the Leopards needed at least one run to extend the game and they managed just that. Jenna Orlando reached on a two-base error and tagged to third when Sam Sweigart fouled out. Brooke Wensel tied the game with a sac fly to send the game to extras, knotted at 6-6.

The Leopards could not push a run across in the eighth. In the bottom of the inning, an error and the tiebreaker rule put runners on the corners with no outs. The runner on first stole second, prompting an intentional walk to load the bases.

Lafayette pitcher Stephanie Thomas got Anderson to hit a ground ball and the Leopards made a force out at home. They made the second out of the inning also at home plate as Thomas threw to M. Wensel. Wensel was looking for the final out of the inning on the play and attempted to throw to first, but the ball sailed into right field, allowing Vanessa Gomez (2-for-2) to score for the victory.

Thomas (1-3) was the losing pitcher, despite not allowing a hit in an inning and a third. Marinelli threw 4.2 innings, allowing one run on nine hits with a pair of strikeouts. Gornick gave up four earned in 1.2 innings in the no-decision. Kaitlyn Hitch threw the final three innings in the win for UMES, allowed three earned on five hits.

Lafayette (4-4) plays the final game on Sunday afternoon against UMBC.