EASTON Pa. – The Lafayette baseball team opened the Patriot League Tournament semifinal series with a hard-fought 7-5 win over top-seeded Army on Saturday afternoon in game one of a best-of-three series. The Leopards and Black Knights will meet for games two and three, if necessary, on Sunday. Live coverage will be available on ESPN+, beginning at noon. 

The Leopards jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, when after a walk to sophomore Michael Zarrillo, senior Seif Ingram belted a two-run home run to right field. The home run was Ingram's eighth of the season.

The Black Knights responded with back-to-back solo home runs in the second by Coleson Titus and Ethan Ellis to knot the game at 2-2.

In the third, Lafayette's offense countered with three runs of its own as junior Blaze Fadio doubled down the left field line to lead off the frame and then senior Pete Ciuffreda ripped another double down the left field line, scoring Fadio. Zarrillo followed with his 10^th home run of the season, a towering blast to right field that made the score 5-2.

The Leopards extended their lead in the top of the sixth when junior Justin Grech reached base on a infield single to lead off the inning, and later in the frame sophomore Ben Petrone ripped a two-run home run to center field, bringing the score to 7-2.

In the sixth, Army struck back with the second home run of the game by Titus, a solo home run which cut Lafayette's lead to 7-3.

The Black Knights again cut into the Leopards' advantage in the eighth, scoring on a RBI-single by Chris Barr and a passed ball, to bring the tally to 7-5.

Freshman Luke Craytor pitched a scoreless ninth, sealing the game one victory for the Lafayette Nine, 7-5.

Alex Walsh picked up his sixth win of the year for the Maroon and White, pitching 5.2 innings, giving up five hits, three runs and striking out three. Craytor earned his first collegiate save, tossing 3.1 innings, giving up three hits, two runs and recording seven strikeouts. Matthew Ronnebaum took the loss for the Black Knights, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits with seven K's. 

The Leopards are set to play games two and three, if necessary, of their Patriot League semifinal series with Army at noon on Sunday.