ANNAPOLIS, Md.  – Lafayette baseball was defeated by Navy, 6-3, in the final game of a three-game series on Sunday at Max Bishop Stadium.

Navy jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI-single to right field by Andrew Manning that scored Brock Murtha.

Neither team scored again until the bottom of the seventh. The Mids added three runs to their lead, plating the first run on a Lafayette error and two more runs on a two-run double down the left field line by Victor Izquierdo, making the score 4-0.

Lafayette responded in the top of the eighth. The Leopards loaded the bases on a singles by sophomore Charlie Chropuvka and freshman Luke Caucci and a walk by freshman Matt Colella. Sophomore Ethan Swidler hit an RBI-single up the middle, scoring Chropuvka. Caucci came across the plate on a wild pitch and then senior Blaze Fadio reached on a throwing error by the Navy catcher, that allowed Colella to score, making the tally 4-3.

In the bottom of the inning, Navy added two insurance runs. Eduardo Diaz hit an RBI-single through the left side, and then the Mids scored another run on a Lafayette throwing error that pushed the final to 6-3.

Brady Bendik collected the win for the Mids, pitching 7.2 innings, giving up six hits, three runs and striking out five. Landon Kruer (1.1 IP, 0 H, 1K) earned the save. Freshman Tristan Helmick was the pitcher of record for the Leopards, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts over four innings. 

The Leopards are next in action when they host a Liberty Bell Classic semifinal at 3 p.m. on Tuesday against Delaware.