MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Lafayette turned in a solid performance defensively and in the circle, but could not take advantage of several scoring opportunities in a 3-1 loss to Ivy League foe Princeton on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Leopards' offense certainly had its chances, leaving 11 baserunners on base for the game, including eight runners combined over the final three innings.
 
Lafayette took the game into the seventh, trailing 3-1. Sophomore Harlie Bickett's infield single between a diving third base and shortstop started things. With one out, freshman Kylee Sweet ripped a ball down the third base line that rocketed off the bag into left field. That left two runners in scoring position.
 
The next batter, junior Paige Sandidge, absorbed a Princeton offering to load the bases. The Tigers' Meghan Harrington struck out freshman Marisa Powell with an elevated fastball and then got senior Kaili Reitano to foul out deep behind third base to end the game.
 
The Leopards got a strong pitching performance from junior Jacqueline Cal who started the game by battling through an error and a bases-loaded situation in the first inning before ending the frame with a flyout an no runs across.
 
The Leopards took the lead in the top of the second inning. Powell led off with a single and then promptly stole second. Reitano followed by taking a pitch for the team to put two runners on with no outs. Powell was cut down trying to steal third, but the Leopards still pushed across a run when junior Bailey Langford singled to left for the 1-0 lead.
 
Princeton tied the game with an RBI-single in the second and then took its first lead of the afternoon in the fifth inning, when Adrienne Chang lifted a pitch over the fence in left field for the 3-1 advantage.
 
In the sixth, the Leopards loaded the bases with one out, bringing about a Princeton pitching change. Harrington came in and struck out senior Grace Harvey and enticed fellow senior Julia Roman into a pop out to end the inning, still trailing 3-1.
 
The Leopards loaded the bases again in the seventh, but could not find a way to get the runners home.
 
Cal threw five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Classmate Kailee Sawai threw the sixth inning and retired all three batters. Molly Chambers was the circle victor, surrendering one run on three hits, despite walking six.
 
Lafayette plays two more games on Sunday, battling Tennessee-Chattanooga at 9 a.m. and Hartford at 11:30 a.m.