EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette softball challenged reigning Patriot League champ Lehigh to the final at-bats in both Sunday games, before dropping 5-3 and 5-4 decisions in Patriot League action at Metzgar Fields.
 
Junior Paige Sandidge and sophomore Harlie Bickett drove in five of the Leopards' seven runs in the afternoon twinbill, connecting for a three-run blast and a two-run shot, respectively. Rookie Kylee Sweet added a 3-for-3 day in game one for the Leopards, who opened up Patriot League play and an eight-game homestand this weekend.
 
In game one, both teams threatened in the first inning. Lehigh had runners on the corners with two outs before Leopard starter Jacqueline Cal got a ground out to end the inning. The Leopards followed by loading the bases with two outs via a Sweet double and a pair of walks. Chloe Hess enticed Marisa Powell to ground out to second to end the threat.
 
Lehigh, which put the lead-off batter on base in four of the first five innings, struck first. With two outs in the fourth, pinch hitter Sydney Parlett smacked a Cal offering to right field to score a pair of runners. The Mountain Hawks had two hits in the inning and benefited from a fielding error to lead 2-0.
 
The visitors added two more in the top of the fifth. Lehigh grad student Carly Barjaktarovich singled to lead off the inning and later scored on Emily Cimino's double off the leftfield wall. Brooke Cannon's plated Cimino with an infield single for a 4-0 advantage.
 
In the fifth, the Leopards put the lead runner aboard when Julia Roman took a pitch off the arm. With two outs in the inning, Sweet came to the plate, carrying with her the only two hits of the day. Sweet didn't see any strikes, putting two runners aboard for Sandidge. The junior Psychology major delivered, smashing a three-run home run to right centerfield to bring the Leopards within one, 4-3.
 
Lehigh padded its lead in the seventh, scoring a run on a throwing error. In the bottom of the inning, Sweet had her third hit of the game, pulling a single through the left side with two outs in the inning. Lehigh reliever Katelyn Young struck out Sandidge to end the game.
 
Young collected the save while in relief off Hess who gave up three runs on four hits over six innings for the win. Cal turned in a solid performance, giving up just two earned runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings. Morrigan Gardiner tossed the final 2.2 innings and struck out five batters and did not allow an earned run.
 
In game two, Lehigh scored four runs over the first three innings but Lafayette clawed back with a four-run fifth inning that gave it a shot entering the seventh.
 
In that final at-bat, the Leopards trailed 5-4. Sweet collected a lead-off walk. Hess retired Sandidge on a pop out that carried to the wall in right field before being caught. That brought Kaili Reitano to the plate. She tried to attempted to lay down a bunt but popped it up to second base allowing Sweet to be doubled off to end the game.
 
The Leopards had other solid chances. In the fourth, they loaded the bases with no outs. Reitano and Powell started the inning with a single and double, respectively before senior Grace Harvey walked to load the bases. Young, who started the first game, struck out Coyle for the first out. The Leopards put on the bunt with Kylene Gooch at the plate. She popped up the attempt and Reitano was doubled off at third to end the threat.
 
Lafayette trailed 5-0 through four and a half innings, but used the long ball to get things going offensively. With senior Julia Roman aboard via a lead-off single, Bickett lifted a Young pitch over the fence in right centerfield. Sandidge and Reitano kept things going with a double and a single, respectively. Lehigh brought in Ansley Dambach in relief of Young. Dambach uncorked a couple of wild offerings that netted a pair of runs for the Leopards who closed the gap to 5-4 going into the final inning. Hess closed out the game for Lehigh to earn the save.
 
Junior Kailee Sawai allowed five runs on eight hits over five innings for the Leopards in the circle. She gave way to Gardiner who threw two scoreless innings when she surrendered just one hit.
 
Lafayette will continue Patriot League play April 1-2 with a three-game series vs. Army.