BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Lafayette baseball team opened its three-game series against Western Kentucky, dropping the first game, 5-2, at Nick Denes Field.

The Hilltoppers opened the scoring in the bottom of the third on a wild pitch by Lafayette. Western Kentucky added another run in the frame on a sacrifice fly by Camden Ross, to take a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, the Leopards struck back. Freshman Jack Mislan sent a 3-2 pitch over the fence in left center field. The home run was Mislan's second of the year. Senior Easton Brenner tied the score on a sacrifice bunt later in the inning that scored junior Bode Grieve, and knotted the score 2-2.

In the bottom of the inning, the Hilltoppers jumped back out in front. Ryan Wideman hit an RBI-triple down the right field line and Ross delivered an RBI-single, making the score 4-2.

Western Kentucky added an insurance in the seventh on an RBI-bunt single by Ross that brought the tally to 5-2, which held to be the final.

Evan Jones collected the win for the Hilltoppers, pitching 0.1 innings, giving up one hit and recording a strikeout. Cal Higgins got the save, pitching 4.0 innings, giving up one hit and striking out three. Senior Joe Skapinetz took the loss, throwing 4.2 innings while giving up five hits, four runs with five strikeouts.

The Leopards continue their series with Western Kentucky on Sunday, with a doubleheader that begins at 2 p.m.