HIGH POINT, N.C. – Lafayette fell to High Point, 16-8, on opening day in game one of the three-game series with the Panthers.

Sophomore Dylan Minghini led the way for the Leopards, going 3-5 with a home run, a double and three RBI's. Junior Michael Landry went 2-4 from the plate with two hits and one run.

Lafayette (0-1) got on the board first in the top of the second off a home run by senior Jake Sniegocki but High Point (1-0) responded in the bottom of the second with a run of its own to put the game at one apiece heading into the third.

The Panthers broke the game open in the third inning, hitting a two-run home run to take a 3-1 lead before tacking on five more runs to make it 8-1.

They scored six more by the end of the fifth to make it 14-1.

Sophomore Justin Johnson started to stage a comeback for the Leopards in the top of the sixth, starting the inning off by drawing a walk. Junior Colin Hartey then reached first on a fielder's choice and Johnson advanced to second on a throwing error by the Panther's first baseman.

Senior Mark Glover then drew a walk, advancing Hartey to second, Johnson to third and loading the bases for Minghini who doubled to left field to send Hartey and Johnson across the plate to make it 14-3.

Lafayette added two more runs in the seventh with Landry starting the inning off with a single up the middle. Johnson then reached base on a fielding error by the Panthers to put runners at first and second. Junior Ethan Stern singled to center to score Landry and with Johnson on second and Stern on first, Hartey drew a walk to load the bases. Up next was Glover, who flied out to right field but it was enough to score Johnson and advance Hartey to second. Minghini then smacked a three-run home run to clear the bases and cut the Leopards deficit to six.

Lafayette threatened in the top of the eighth after freshman Seif Ingram reached first on a wild pitch and advanced to third off a Landry single and a Johnson fly out to center but they couldn't bring any more runs across the plate as Stern struck out to end the inning.

Lafayette and High Point are set to start game two of the three-game series tomorrow at 2 p.m.