BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- Leopard softball closed out the first day of the Camel Invitational with a 9-5 loss to host Campbell on Friday afternoon. 
 
Senior Mary Grace O'Neill went 3-for-3 while hitting out of the No.  9 spot in the order, while sophomore Katie Harrington drove in three runs for the Leopards. 
 
Lafayette struck first, scoring a pair in the initial inning. Harrington's double plated Caroline Hall and Olivia Catalina for the early 2-0 advantage.
 
The hosts tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the second inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly and a single. Campbell then broke open the game with five runs in the bottom of the third inning. Amber DeSena and Emma Slutzah doubled in all five runs in the frame as the Camels led 7-2. Campbell added two more scores in the fifth to lead 9-2. 
 
Lafayette kept battling into the seventh inning. O'Neill scored on an error and Sabina Lehnert trotted home via a wild pitch to put the score at 9-4. The Leopards pushed across one more run when Harrington scored Emma Ahlhorn for the 9-5 final. 

Parker Rowden took the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits with five walks over 2.1 innings. Sophia Alvarez-Backus threw the final 3.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. Emily Dameron got the win after surrendering two runs on five hits. 

The Leopards will be back at it on Saturday, facing Bryant at noon.