BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Using a 10-run seventh inning, the Leopards broke open a 3-3 tie to defeat rival Lehigh,13-3, on Wednesday at Legacy Park.

Lafayette opened the scoring in the top of the third. Senior Michael Mallas was hit by a pitch, followed by back-to-back walks to freshman Matt Collela and sophomore Ethan Swidler. With the bases loaded, senior Blaze Fadio ripped a two-run single to left center field. The Leopards scored another run on a sacrifice bunt by junior Easton Brenner, to make the score 3-0.

In the bottom of the third, Lehigh responded with two runs on a sacrifice fly and an RBI-single up the middle, to make the tally 3-2. Lehigh then tied the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI-groundout.

Lafayette broke open the game in the seventh. Swidler started the Leopards' offensive charge with an RBI-single to left field. Two batters later, with the bases-loaded, Brenner ripped a two-run double to left field that scored Fadio and Swidler. Later in the frame, junior Ben Petrone walked with the bases loaded, adding another to the Leopards' tally. With the bases still loaded, Mallas slashed a three-run double to right center field and was followed by Colella, who hit an RBI-single down the left field line. Swidler capped off the inning for the Leopards, blasting a towering two-run home run over the fence in left center field to extend the Leopards' lead to 13-3. The home run was Swidler's team-leading seventh of the year.

Lehigh was unable to score again in the bottom the seventh, and with the 10-run rule in play, the game ended after seven innings, with Lafayette winning 13-3.

Senior Adam Bogosian collected the win for the Leopards, scattering five hits and only surrendering one run over 4.1 innings of work, while striking out two. Brandon Coughlin took the loss for the Mountain Hawks, giving up three runs and three hits over two innings of action.

The Leopards are next in action when they host Holy Cross for a three-game series starting on Saturday at noon.