PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Lafayette baseball team was bested by Rutgers,18-6, on Wednesday at Bainton Field.

The Leopards started the scoring in the first inning, when junior Easton Brenner singled to shortstop and then stole second. Later in the frame, senior Blaze Fadio ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Brenner and giving Lafayette a 1-0 lead.

Rutgers responded in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs in the inning on a sacrifice fly and a Lafayette error, to take a 2-1 lead.

The Scarlett Knights extended their lead in the second, plating three runs in the frame. The Rutgers offense continued to click, driving in six runs in the third, three runs in the fourth and four in the fifth.

The Leopards responded in the sixth, when Fadio singled up the middle to start the inning and was followed by junior Michael Zarrillo, who laced a single through the right side. Sophomore Charlie Chropuvka lined an RBI-single to center field. The next three batters where hit by pitches, which resulted in two more runs for the Maroon and White. Sophomore Ethan Swidler hit a two-run single to right field, bringing the tally to 18-6, which proved to be the final.

Ben Gorski collected the win for the Rutgers, pitching 3.0 innings, giving up four hits, one run and striking out three. Senior Bo Planeta took the loss for the Leopards, pitching 1.2 innings, giving up three hits and five runs.

The Leopards are back in action on Friday, when they host rival Lehigh for the first game of a four-game series, starting at noon.