PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Lafayette began the 2022 softball season on a proper note, beating St. Peter's 2-0 in the opening game of the Eastern Shore Classic on Friday.
 
The start of the game was delayed by several hours due to chilly temperatures and time needed to prepare the field. When the game started at noon, the Leopards were ready to go.
 
Lafayette scored single runs in the first and second innings and that proved to be enough offense as Leopard starter Jacqueline Cal limited St. Peter's offense to five hits in the shutout.
 
In the first inning, lead-off hitter Natasha Miner walked before Julia Roman's two-out single moved Miner to third base. The Leopards took advantage of a throwing error by the St. Peter's catcher to lead 1-0.
 
Lafayette padded its lead in the second. Kinzi Van Wyk's lead-off double turned into another run. Paige Sandidge moved Van Wyk to third and Julia Romano plated her with a sac fly to right for the 2-0 advantage.
 
That proved to be all of the offense the Leopards needed thanks to Cal's pitching performance. She struck out four and did not walk any of the 26 batters she faced. Cal enticed St. Peter's into 13 flyouts and three groundouts while stranding five baserunners.  
 
Lafayette is slated to play host Maryland-Eastern Shore later today (weather and daylight permitting) at the conclusion of UMES' game vs. St. Peter's.