STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Leopard softball team finished off a competitive weekend by taking a 10-win Idaho State team to extra innings before dropping a 4-3 decision in the eighth.
 
Morrigan Gardiner managed one of the best outings of her career in the circle, as the junior struck out seven batters (one short of her career high) over 7.1 innings while scattering seven hits.
 
The Leopards grabbed an early lead, plating runs in each of the first two innings. In the first, Mary Grace O'Neill's lead-off single started things. She stole second and Regan Dillon came to the plate with two outs. Dillon came through with an RBI-single to center for the 1-0 lead.
 
Lafayette doubled its advantage in the second inning. Sophomore Kylene Gooch drew a two-out walk which was followed by O'Neill's infield single. Sophomore Kylee Sweet pulled a double down the leftfield line that chased Idaho State starter Riley Wickum from the game and gave Lafayette a 2-0 lead.
 
The Bengals evened things in the fourth inning when Alyssa Yee connected for a two-run home run to left centerfield.
 
Gardiner struck out the side in the fifth inning and went unscathed through the sixth and seven as the game went to extra innings.
 
In the top of the eighth, the Leopards started the inning with O'Neill aboard at second via the international tiebreaker rule. Sweet sacrificed her to third. Sophomore Marisa Powell came to the plate and hit a ground ball to shortstop. The throw came home, but O'Neill was already across the plate for the 3-2 lead.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Idaho State moved its runner from second to third via sac bunt. Then, Angelica Cano and Olivia Robison each followed with their second doubles of the day to end the game, 4-3.
 
Taylor Fitzgerald (3-0) pitched the final 6.1 innings of the game to claim the win. She struck out seven and did not allow a Leopard hit.
 
The Leopards will be back in action Feb. 23-25 at the University of Florida T-Mobile Tournament, playing five games against Illinois-Chicago, Florida and Colgate.