CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Lafayette opened the University of North Carolina Mizuno Invitational with a 7-1 loss to Rutgers on Friday morning. Junior catcher Maggie Klug went 2-for-3 to pace the Leopards' offense. 

Rutgers scored three runs on three hits in the home half of the second inning off Lafayette starter Jacqueline Cal. 

The Scarlet Knights added one more in the fourth on an RBI-groundout and three more in the fifth inning off Lafayette reliever Morrigan Gardiner. Lauren Punk doubled in two runs and later scored on an infield single. Gardiner avoided further damage when she was able to get Morgan Smith to foul out and Gaelen Kelly to strike out with the bases loaded. 

The Leopards pushed across a run in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Megan Coyle started the inning with a double and later scored on Paige Sandidge's sacrifice fly to center field to push the final to 7-1. 

Cal took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in two innings with a pair of strikeouts. Gardiner threw the final four innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with two K's. Georgia Ingle pitched the final four innings, surrendering one run on three hits to collect the circle victory. 

The Leopards will be back in action at 4 p.m. on Saturday, when they face Rider, and will play two more games on Sunday.