STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Lafayette used timely hitting and a strong pitching performance from senior Kailee Sawai to notch a 4-2 victory over Buffalo on Saturday morning.
 
Sophomore Grace Hausamann plated two runs and rookie Regan Dillon smacked a pair of doubles to spark the offense which managed six hits in the Leopards' third game at the Tarleton State Whataburger Invitational.
 
The teams traded runs in the first inning. Dillon led off the frame with a double and Hausamann singled down the left field line to score her and knot the game at 1-1.
 
Lafayette created some breathing room in the fourth inning, taking the lead when Marisa Powell beat out an infield single, stole second and then scored on an error. Hausamann tripled home Dillon before Maggie Klug followed with an RBI-single that stretched the Leopards' lead to 4-1.
 
Sawai continued to work efficiently, allowing just two hits over the final four innings. The Bulls added a run in the seventh with a bases-loaded, two-out walk before Sawai ended the suspense with a flyout. The neuroscience major allowed one just earned run on five hits over seven innings while striking out five of the 34 batters she faced. Sawai evened her record at 1-1.
 
The Leopards will be back at it versus host Tarleton State at 2:15 p.m.