HAMMOND, La. – Lafayette baseball dropped both halves of a doubleheader at Southeastern Louisiana University on Saturday. After losing game one, 20-0, the Leopard offense came alive in a back-and-forth loss to the Lions in game two in a 7-5 final.
 
In game two, Lafayette was led by junior Blaze Fadio, senior Pete Ciuffreda and freshman Ethan Swidler, who all hit solo home runs. Junior Justin Grech had a hit and two RBIs.

Senior Alex Walsh made his first collegiate start on the mound, throwing 3.2 innings and striking out five.

The Lions struck first in game two with four runs in the first inning, on two RBI singles and two hit-by-pitches with the bases loaded.

The Leopards' offense came alive in the second inning, when on an 0-1 pitch Ciuffreda sent a solo home run soaring over the fence in right center field, cutting the Lions' lead to 4-1.

In the fourth inning, Fadio ripped a solo home run to left field, making the score 4-2.

The Lions added another run in the fourth and two more runs in the sixth, giving them a 7-2 lead.

The Leopards rallied late in the top of the seventh inning.  With one out, Swidler hit his first collegiate home run, a towering drive over the left center field fence, which was followed by a walk to sophomore Easton Brenner and then a single by Fadio, putting runners at first and second. Fadio and Brenner advanced on a wild pitch. Grech hit a two-run RBI single to center field, scoring Fadio and Brenner, and making the score 7-5. The Leopards got two more runners on base during the inning, but could not capitalize, stranding runners at first and second.

The Leopards conclude their series at Southeastern Louisiana tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT.