Leading Off

The Leopards return home to the friendly confines of Metzgar Fields for the first time in the 2025 campaign. The Marist Red Foxes come to town for a Friday afternoon doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.. A day later, Lafayette welcomes St. Peter's for a two-game Saturday set beginning at noon.

Last Time Out

The Leopards played four games at last weekend's Penn State Invitational at Penn State University. Lafayette dropped a 15-0 decision against Canisius and a 9-1 final against Fairfield on March 8. March 9 saw the Maroon and White drop an 11-3 decision against Canisius and a 13-0 final against Penn State.

Home, Sweet Home

The Maroon and White are set to host 10 straight home contests, starting with Marist and St. Peter's. A three-game series against Holy Cross on March 22-23 begins Patriot League play before rival Lehigh travels across town to take on the Maroon and White. Holy Cross marks the first of four consecutive series against conference opponents, with Lehigh, Colgate and Bucknell following.

Pacing The Patriot League

Senior Mary Grace O'Neill leads the Patriot League in batting average (.426) while primarily hitting in the two-hole. The Pleasantville, N.Y. native has collected 20 hits in 47 at-bats, tallying a team-high four doubles and a triple. 

O'Neill received Patriot League Softball Player of the Week recognition on Feb. 24 after her performance at the Panther Invitational. The Pleasantville, N.Y. native hit .529 at the tournament, collecting nine hits over three days of action. 

The Opponents

Friday pits Lafayette against a scorching hot Marist team, which is riding an eight-game winning streak entering the matchup. The Red Foxes are 19-5 with contributions coming from all over the diamond. Junior Haley Ahr and grad student Miah McDonald have been mainstays in the Marist offense. Ahr is the team leader in batting average (.492) to go along with 28 RBIs. McDonald has belted 12 home runs and driven in 36, both team-highs. Within the circle, grad student Kiley Myers has appeared in 11 games with a 10-0 record. Myers's ERA sits at 0.60, allowing opponents to hit .175. 

St. Peter's visits Easton on Saturday, bringing a 5-8 record after a win over Coppin State on March 9. Olivia Christopher has been one of the standout players offensively, swatting .439 while starting in every game. St. Peter's also has seen Tai Turner produce, hitting .357 with four doubles, two triples and a home run. Freshman Ava White has been the Peacocks' go-to pitcher, appearing in seven games while making five starts with a 3-2 record and a 4.36 ERA.