WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Lafayette baseball team returned to Patriot League action on Friday, dropping its series opener to Army 5-3 at Doubleday Field. Junior Justin Grech led the Leopards with two hits, including a solo home run and two RBIs.

The Leopards wasted no time in taking the lead. In the top of the first, sophomore Easton Brenner led off the inning with a single to left field. Senior Pete Ciuffreda followed with an infield single. Brenner stole third and advanced home on an error by the Army catcher to give Lafayette a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the frame, Army responded immediately when lead-off batter Derek Berg hit a solo home run to left field. Also in the first, the Black Knights scored on an RBI-single to left field by Ross Friedrick and an RBI-double by Braden Golinski, to make the score 3-1.

The Black Knights added another run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-single to right field by Ethan Ellis, bringing the score to 4-1. Army extended its lead to 5-1 in the sixth, scoring on a RBI-groundout by Kevin Dubrule.

Lafayette responded in the seventh when senior Kyle Chmielewski reached on an error and then advanced to third on a passed ball. Grech singled to the Army shortstop, which allowed Chmielewski to cross the plate and made the score 5-2.

The Leopards plated one more run in the ninth, on a solo home run to left field by Grech, which brought the final tally to 5-3.

Robbie Buecker collected the win for the Black Knights, pitching 8.2 innings, giving up six hits, three runs and striking out seven. Sean Dennehy earned the save. Freshman Pat Walega took the loss for the Leopards, pitching 4.1 innings, giving up 10 hits, four runs and striking out two.

The Leopards will continue their series with the Black Knights in a doubleheader on Saturday that starts at noon.