EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette baseball team split its games Saturday with Lehigh, dropping the first game 1-0 and winning game two, 7-6, to open up Patriot League play.
 
The Leopards were led in game one by junior Seif Ingram who went 2-for-3. Junior Pete Ciuffreda and senior Dylan Minghini each also recorded a hit. In game, two Minghini went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Junior Kyle Chmielewski led the Leopards with two RBI. 
 
Game one starting pitcher sophomore Luke Benneche threw his first career complete game, tossing seven innings while striking out six. Game two starting pitcher junior Jake Bloss went 6.0 innings, striking out six while earning his first win of the season.
 
After Benneche got Lehigh (13-8, 1-1 PL) in order in the top of the first in the first game of the day, Lafayette (5-18, 1-1 PL) threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Ciuffreda singled with two outs and then a batter later, Minghini singled to advance Ciuffreda to third. Dorighi struck out swinging to end the inning and send the game into the second scoreless.
 
Lafayette threatened in the second inning again after senior Evan Kiah singled with two outs. Ingram then singled again to put runners on first and second for the Leopards. A double steal moved the runners to second and third, but the Leopards offense couldn't bring the runners home.
 
Lehigh put a run on the board in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead and held the Leopards scoreless the rest of the game to earn the 1-0 victory.
 
Freshman Easton Brenner started off game two with a single and Minghini followed with a single of his own to put runners on first and second. Freshman Carter Dorighi than walked to load the bases. The Mountain Hawks starting pitcher walked freshman Michael Zarrillo, scoring Brenner to put Lafayette up 1-0.
 
Lehigh tied the game 1-1 in the top of the second, but Lafayette took the lead once again in the bottom of the second, 2-1.
 
The Leopards added another run in the bottom of the third to lead 3-1 before the Mountain Hawks added two more runs to send the game to the bottom of the fifth with the game tied 3-3.
 
Lafayette took a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Minghini led off the inning with a single and then Dorighi drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Zarrillo drew a walk to load the bases and then all runners advanced on wild pitch, bringing home Minghini and putting Lafayette ahead 4-3.
 
Chmielewski grounded out to the Mountain Hawks' third baseman to advance Zarrillo and bring Dorighi home. Two batters later it was Ingram who reached base on an error by the Mountain Hawks shortstop to score Zarrillo and give Lafayette a 6-3 lead heading into the sixth.
 
The Lafayette Nine added one run in the bottom of the sixth and Lehigh added three in the top of the seventh to put the score at 7-6.
 
Neither team put a run across home plate in the final innings as Lafayette earned the 7-6 game two victory and the Saturday split.  Jacob Ciccone threw the final three innings of the game to collect his first save of the season. 
 
The Leopards and Mountain Hawks are back in action Sunday for another doubleheader to wrap-up the weekend series. First pitch of game one is slated for 12 p.m.