Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Lafayette softball team earned its second win of the season in the final game at the Buff and Blue Challenge. The Leopards beat Brown 13-4 in five innings to close out the weekend, exploding for eight runs in the fifth inning to give them the victory.

"We are playing our best softball right now as we go into Patriot League play," said head coach Caitlyn de la Haba. "We have had a bunch of close, one run losses that were heartbreakers, but today showed what we are capable of and how well we can play. I am excited for next weekend!"

Brown put Lafayette in the hole early, scoring three runs off starting pitcher Stacy Gordon. Hannah Cook was brought in to pitch for Gordon after only recording one out.

Lafayette answered with a run in the second inning on a Malori Pojar single to right field that scored Ellen McDonnell.

The Maroon and White got the bats going in the third inning, scoring four runs to take a 5-3 lead. Miranda Skurla kept the inning alive by drawing a two-out walk. After back-to-back singles from Maddie Wensel and Gordon, McDonnell came up with bases loaded. With the help of a Brown error, all three baserunners came around to score. Morgan Biddle kept the inning going for the Leopards, knocking McDonnell in on a single.

After getting their first two batters on base in the bottom of the fourth, Brown plated a run to bring the score to 5-4. Alexis Randall came on to replace Cook in the circle. After walking a batter to load the bases, Randall got out of the inning to maintain the Lafayette lead.

The Leopards' bats came alive in the fifth inning, scoring eight runs on six hits. Biddle and Rarick started the inning with singles, before Sam Sweigart knocked them in on a triple to center. Paige Grover singled in Sweigart to extend Lafayette's lead to 8-4. After being hit by a pitch, Brooke Wensel and Grover advanced around the bases on wild pitches to give the Leopards a 10-4 lead. Stacy Gordon put the game out of reach with a three-run home run to cap of the huge inning for the Maroon and White.

Cook got the win for Lafayette, throwing three innings while only allowing one run on four hits. Randall was credited with the save after nearly pitching two innings of scoreless work.

The Leopards (2-17) are back in action on Thursday with a doubleheader at St Peter's. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.