EASTON, Pa. – Junior Kaili Reitano doubled in a pair of runs and freshman Kaya Ciccone-Cozart delivered her third home run of the season, but the Leopards saw Colgate pull away for a 9-5 final on Sunday afternoon.
 
Colgate took the early lead, scoring four runs over the first three innings off Lafayette starter Kailee Sawai. Kara Fusco connected for a three-run home run in the third that gave Colgate a 4-0 lead. Colgate's first four runs were unearned following an error in the first and one in the third on a cold, windy day when the teams combined for eight miscues.
 
The Leopards climbed back into the game by scoring three runs in the fourth inning. Reitano singled to right to plate junior Julia Roman (single) and senior Kinzi Van Wyk (error). Senior Natasha Miner (2-for-3) singled home Reitano to pull the Leopards within 4-3.
 
Colgate padded its lead to 6-3 with two runs in the fifth on two hits off Sawai. Sawai, who pitched in all three games in the series, finished the day allowing nine runs, but only three earned, on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout.  
 
Lafayette got a run back in the bottom half of the inning when Ciccone-Cozart lifted a pitch to straightway center field for her third home run of the season. The Leopards trailed 6-4.
 
The visitors pounded out three runs in the sixth inning, two on Jillian Herbst's one-out double to lead 9-4. Colgate reliever Kaitlyn Borruso retired the Leopards in order in home half of the sixth.
 
In the last of the seventh, Lafayette took its final shot. Freshman shortstop Harlie Bickett led off with a single and scored on Grace Harvey's double to the gap in right centerfield. Borruso ended the game when she cut down the Leopards' Nos. 4, 5 and 6 hitters for the 9-5 final.
 
Borruso, who earned the three-inning save and Colgate starter Bailey Misken, who collected the win, each struck out five, combining to give up three earned runs on seven hits. Sawai was relieved by Van Wyk who tossed the final 1.2 innings and did not allow a hit while striking out two.
 
The Leopards will have the week off from competition, next slated to play a three-game Patriot League series at Army on April 16-17.