CLEMSON, S.C. – Lafayette softball dropped the first two games of the Tiger Invitational to Indiana (22-0) and Clemson (11-3) on Friday afternoon at Clemson's McWhorter Stadium.

In the opening game vs. Indiana, the Hoosiers scored eight runs in the second inning and never looked back. Brianna Copeland drove plated Indiana runs in the morning matchup on a two-run home run that was part of a 5-for-5 day that also included two doubles. Offensively for the Leopards, soph. Katie Harrington went 2-for-2 while freshman Caroline Hall and junior Kylee Sweet each belted a double. 

Freshman Sophia Alvarez-Backus allowed seven runs on six hits in the loss. Jenae Berry claimed the win, limiting Lafayette to one hit over three innings. 

In the afternoon game, freshman Emma Ahlborn went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI while Hall and Harrington each added a pair of hits and drove in runs in an 11-3 final.

The Leopards took the lead in the first inning. Ahlborn's one-out triple plated No. 2 batter Mary Grace O'Neill who had reached on a fielder's choice following Olivia Catalina's game-opening single. Hall brough Ahlborn the final 60 feet with a single for Lafayette's 2-0 lead.

Clemson tied it up in the bottom of the first with two runs on three hits. Julia Knowler doubled home a run and the Tigers added another on a sac fly to even the score at 2-2. The Tigers kept the offense rolling in the second inning, banging out six runs on eight hits to lead 8-2. Knowler contributed the biggest hit of the inning, a three-run homer to right center field.

Lafayette picked up another run in the top of the third. O'Neill led off with a bunt single and later scored on a Harrington's infield single with two outs in the inning. Lafayette trailed 8-3. 

In the bottom of the third, another RBI from Knowler increased the Tiger lead to 9-3. The hostss added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to push the final to 11-3.

Alvarez-Backus took the loss, giving up 11 runs on 17 hits with a strikeout over 5.1 innings. Olivia Duncan started in the circle for the Tigers, allowing three runs on seven hits with a strikeout over three inning before giving way to Brook Melnychuk. She pitched the final three innings while scattering four hits and holding Lafayette scoreless.

The Maroon and White return to action Saturday, facing East Carolina at 10 a.m.