PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Lafayette baseball team split its doubleheader on Saturday with Penn, dropping the first game, 8-1, and winning the second game, 6-3.
 
In game one, the Quakers jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Leopards scored a run on a Penn error, to make the score 4-1 in the top of the seventh. The Quakers scored four more runs in the bottom of the seventh, bringing the final tally to 8-1.

Cole Zaffiro earned the win for Penn and Carson Ozmer collected the save. Junior Joe Skapinetz took the loss for Lafayette.

In game two, Lafayette took a 1-0 lead in the second. Blaze Fadio blasted a solo home run to left field, depositing a 1-0 pitch into the stands. It was Fadio's second home run of the season.

The Leopards extended their lead in the third, when Matt Colella hit an infield single to second base that drove in freshman Teddy Cashman, making the score 2-0.

In the sixth, Lafayette added to its lead, scoring three runs in the frame. Junior Easton Brenner started the scoring with an RBI-groundout that allowed senior Justin Grech to cross the plate. Later in the inning, Fadio slashed a single through the left side, driving in junior Ben Petrone and sophomore Ethan Swidler, giving the Leopards a 5-0 lead.

In the eighth, Brenner provided the Leopards with an insurance run. The Houston, Texas native lined an RBI-single to left field that scored Grech, giving the Leopards a 6-0 lead.

Penn mounted a comeback in the eighth and ninth. The Quakers scored a run in the eighth and two runs in the ninth, but Lafayette sophomore Luke Craytor stopped the Penn rally short as the Leopards held on for a 6-3 win.

Sophomore Trace Florio collected his first win of the season for Lafayette, pitching 5.0 innings, giving up four hits, striking out two and not allowing a run. Craytor earned his first save of the season, throwing 4.0 innings and striking out five. Ryan Dromboski took the loss for Penn.

The Lafayette Nine return to action at Penn on Sunday at noon.