EASTON, Pa. – Paige Sandidge belted a pair of home runs to power Lafayette softball to a doubleheader split with Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday afternoon at Metzgar Fields.
 
The junior outfielder accounted for the Leopards' only run in the first game in a 3-1 final and expanded the lead with a two-run home run in the fifth inning of game two in a 6-5 victory.
 
It took the Leopard offense a while to get started on Wednesday, and Lafayette played from behind in the first game.
 
The Leopards gave up two runs on two hits and an error in the first inning with the scores coming on a sac fly and a groundout. FDU extended its lead in the fifth inning when Courtney Mahoney singled home a third run.
 
The Leopards were held to one hit, a Kylee Sweet double in the third, until the seventh inning. Trailing 3-0, Sandidge ripped a pitch over the wall in center field to cut the final margin to 3-1.
 
The duo of Alayna Savaglio and Payton Wagner limited Lafayette to two hits with starter Savaglio striking out seven. Jacqueline Cal threw all seven for Lafayette, surrendering two earned with five strikeouts.
 
Game two started much the same way as game one, this time with FDU breaking out for three runs on four hits in the first.
 
Fortunately for the Leopards, they initiated the offense sooner in the nightcap. In the bottom of the first, Sweet singled home Harlie Bickett who had reached on an error.  
 
Lafayette knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Grace Hausamann doubled in classmate Megan Coyle after her lead-off single. The Leopards tied the game when senior Grace Harvey laid down a bunt that scored pinch runner Kylene Gooch.
 
The game remained tied going into the fifth. Sweet broke the tie by plating Bickett after her lead-off double. Sandidge's second home run of the day padded the Leopards lead to 6-3.  
 
The Knights made it interesting in the seventh, scoring two runs before freshman Marisa Powell closed out the game with a groundout. Powell collected her first collegiate victory, throwing the final four innings in relief of junior starter Kailee Sawai.
 
Lafayette continues its home stand on the weekend, hosting Holy Cross for a three-game conference series. The Leopards will celebrate Pride Day on Saturday, and Sunday is Senior Day and Community Day. First pitch each day is slated for noon.