EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette baseball team opened Patriot League action on Saturday with a win over Holy Cross at Kamine Stadium.
 
The Leopards were led by junior Dylan Minghini and sophomore Kyle Chmielewski who each recorded an RBI. Minghini, Chmielewski, sophomore Pete Ciuffreda and senior Colin Hartey all totaled one hit in three at bats in the game. Chmielewski's RBI was a solo home run in the seventh, marking the sophomore's first collegiate home run.
 
Starting pitcher sophomore Jordan Yoder recorded his second win of the season, going six innings and striking out six of the 27 batters he faced. Freshman Luke Benneche recorded his first collegiate save, coming in for three scoreless innings of work and striking out five.
 
It wasn't until the top of the second that either side was able to get a run across the plate. With runners on first and second, the Crusaders (0-1 PL, 0-2) struck first, advancing to second and third on a passed ball by the Leopards (1-0 PL, 2-1) and then getting one batter across the plate on an error by the Leopards to go up 1-0.
 
In the bottom of the second the Leopards threatened to tie the game up after Hartey walked and advanced to third on a fielding error by the Crusaders. After reaching first on the Crusaders error Hartey advanced to second but Chmielewski struck out looking to end the inning without a Leopard crossing home plate.  
 
After going three up and three down in the bottom of the third, Ciuffreda was hit by a pitch to start off the bottom of the fourth for the Maroon and White. Minghini then drew a walk, advancing Ciuffreda to second to put runners on first and second for Hartey. Hartey reached first on a fielding error by the Crusaders, Minghini advanced to second and Ciuffreda crossed home to tie the game up at 1-1.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Ciuffreda doubled to spark some life into the Leopards bats. Minghini singled right after him, driving home Ciuffreda to break the tie and put the Leopards up 2-1.
 
The Maroon and White would then add one more in the bottom of the seventh, off of Chmielewski's solo homerun put the Leopards up 3-1.
 
After drawing a walk to start off the top of the ninth, the Crusaders threatened to chip away at the Leopards lead, putting a runner in scoring position after advancing on a wild pitch. But Benneche struck-out the final Crusader of the game to secure the 3-1 victory for the Leopards.
 
The Leopards and Crusaders are back in action on Sunday with a doubleheader, starting at 12 p.m., in Easton to close out the weekend series.