COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Lafayette's seventh-inning comeback bid came up just short in a 4-3 loss to Bryant on Friday afternoon in the opening round of the University of Maryland Tournament.
 
Trailing 4-1 entering seventh, the Leopards pushed across two runs and loaded the bases with two outs before a lineout ended the game. Sophomore Megan Coyle and junior Mary Grace O'Neill combined for five for the Leopards' eight hits on the afternoon.
 
The Leopards put up a run in the top of the first inning. O'Neill continued to excel in the lead-off spot. She wore the first pitch of the game, promptly stole second and then took third on a throwing error by the catcher. Rookie Regan Dillon plated O'Neill with a sac fly, as Lafayette led 1-0. For O'Neill, it was her team-leading 12 stolen base of the season, a mark that ties her for 12^th all-time at Lafayette for stolen bases in a season. O'Neill is 12-of-13 on stolen base attempts this season and ranks second in the Patriot League.
 
The Leopards' lead held until the bottom of the second inning. Bryant's Megan Marcel doubled home a run and another scored on a first-and-third steal to give Bryant a 2-1 lead.
 
The Bulldogs stretched their lead to 3-1 in the third when Marcel scored on an error. The Leopards avoided further damage in the inning thanks to Kylene Gooch's inning-ending, unassisted double play at third base.
 
Marcel scored again in the sixth inning, taking Morrigan Gardiner's 2-2 pitch back up the middle and later scoring on a McKenzie McAloon double. Senior Jacqueline Cal came on to pitch in the sixth with no outs with two runners aboard. Leopard catcher Maggie Klug cut down the lead runner at third base on a sacrifice bunt attempt. After a walk loaded the bases, Cal got an infield fly and a ground ball to end the inning with the Leopards trailing 4-1.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Leopards put together a rally. Marisa Powell's lead-off walk helped load the bases with one out. Dillon plated her with a sac fly, the second out of the inning. Coyle came through with another hit that scored O'Neill and brought the Leopards within 4-3.
 
A pitching change followed, and the Leopards' next batter, Klug, walked to re-load the bases. Sophomore Olivia Catalina came to the plate and battled reliever Kylie Kenney to a 3-2 count. The seven-pitch at-bat and the game ended when Catalina lined out to center field.  
 
Gardiner took the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits over five innings. She walked four and struck out three of 27 batters. Cal threw 25 pitches in the sixth and did not allow a hit. Bryant starter Brooke Tracy did not allow an earned run over four innings, while Kenney collected the save.
 
Next up for the Leopards are Purdue Fort Wayne (10:30 a.m.) and Fairfield (3:30 p.m.) on Saturday.