HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Lafayette baseball team opened its 2025 campaign on Friday, dropping its season opener to Southern Miss, 9-2, at Pete Taylor Park.

The game was a scoreless pitcher's duel until the bottom of the sixth. Lafayette senior starter Joe Skapinetz hurled five scoreless innings, only giving up two hits, before he was replaced in the bottom of the sixth by junior Ben Waterman.

The Golden Eagles broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI-single to right center field by Matthew Russo that scored Nick Monistere. Southern Miss added eight runs to its lead in the bottom of the eighth, on RBI-singles by Carson Paetow, Drey Barrett and Jake Cook and a three-run double to right field by Ozzie Pratt. 

With one out in the ninth, senior Michael Zarrillo doubled down the right field line. After a fly out to center field by senior Ben Petrone, freshman Jack Mislan sent the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in left field. The home run was the first of Mislan's collegiate career and made the final tally 9-2.

Waterman took the loss for the Leopards, pitching 2.0 innings, giving up seven hits and six runs, along with striking out two. JB Middleton collected the win, pitching six innings while giving up three hits and striking out four. Colby Allen earned the save for Southern Miss, throwing 3.0 innings, giving up two hits, two runs and striking out three.

The Leopards continue their series with Southern Miss on Saturday, with a doubleheader scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.