EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette saw a pair of strong pitching performances result in a doubleheader split with La Salle on Wednesday afternoon, winning game one 5-1 before dropping game to 3-2.  
 
Stacy Gordon was in command in the circle for the Leopards in game one, striking out a career-high 11 batters while giving up just one run on five hits in the victory. Offensively, Brooke Wensel was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored (both on steals of home).
 
The teams traded runs in the second inning. Emma Schweigert took advantage of a gusty day, with the wind blowing to right field, lining a solo homer to lead off the inning for La Salle (6-17). The visitors helped the Leopards in the bottom of the inning, allowing the first two batters to reach via error before Kaitlyn Rarick plated Maddie Wensel to knot the game at 1-1.
 
The Leopards get their first hit in the third inning on a Brooke Wensel rocket back up the middle. Lafayette added runs when Natasha Miner scored on a wild pitch and Brooke Wensel came plateward via a first-and-third steal.
 
The defense was solid for Lafayette. In the fifth, Addison Goldwait made a diving catch and then doubled off a runner tagging for third to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Lafayette put it away with two runs on three hits, all coming with two outs. Miner singled up the middle and scored on Brooke Wensel's seventh double of the season. Then Wensel stole home as Lafayette ran its lead to 5-1.
 
Gordon stayed in control over the final two innings, allowing just one hit in the sixth. She fanned one in the sixth and struck out the final two batters of the game in the seventh.
 
In game two, freshman Kinzi Van Wyk struck out a career-high eight batters, but surrendered a decisive two-run home in the seventh in the 3-2 final.  
 
Lafayette wasted no time getting things going offensively in the nightcap. Erica Hanson's first career triple made Brooke Wensel's job easy as she grounded out to the right side and scored Hanson for the early lead.
 
The teams swapped scores in the third inning. Erin Conaway doubled home a run for the Explorers. In the bottom half, Brooke Wensel scored from second base on an Erin Scott (2-for-2) single for the 2-1 advantage.
 
Brooke Wensel flashed the leather and saved a pair of runs in the fifth, snaring a liner with a leaping grab for the third out of the inning. She also ended the sixth with a 6-6-3 double play.
 
In the seventh, La Salle took its first lead of the game, After two failed bunt attempts, Mackenzie Vogler lifted a two-run home run to center to give La Salle 3-2 lead.
 
The Leopards sent up their Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters in the bottom of the seventh, but La Salle starter Morgan Orlowski struck out the side to capture the win. She struck out seven on the day, allowing two runs on seven hits.
 
Van Wyk took the loss, surrendering three runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks. She retired the lead-off hitter in six of seven innings.
 
Lafayette (4-23-1) is back to league play this weekend, traveling to Bucknell for a three-game series.