EASTON, Pa. – A four-run sixth inning broke open a one-run game and pushed Army to an 11-4 final on Saturday afternoon in the opening game of the weekend series.
 
Senior Mary Grace O'Neill continued to swing a hot bat for the Leopards, driving in a pair of runs on two hits to up her Patriot League-lead batting average to .454. O'Neill also swiped two bases in the seventh inning, moving her into third place on the career stolen bases list with 34.
 
It was a low-scoring game in the early innings. The Leopards spotted Army a run in the first, as two walks, a single and a groundout off Leopard starter Makayla Lecky led to the first run of the game.  Army doubled its advantage in the top of the third. Emma Murchison's sinking single left the score at 2-0.
 
The Leopards got on the board in the home half of the third. An infield single by Katie Harrington and heads-up baserunning by Olivia Catalina made the score 2-1.
 
The Maroon and White took their first lead of the game in the fourth inning. O'Neill connected for a two-out single that scored Jocelyn O'Keeffe and Maggie Klug, as Lafayette claimed a 3-2 lead.
 
That advantage lasted until the fifth inning. Army Pinch hitter Breanna Coonfare ripped a double to the gap and the Black Knights added two more runs in the inning to lead 6-3. Army created some breathing room with a five-run seventh that came on six hits.
 
The Leopards plated one final run in the seventh. O'Neill laced an infield single, stole second and third and scored on a Harrington groundout. O'Neill's two swipes pushed her into a third-place tie with Gwen Turner '12 with 34 career stolen bases.
 
Lecky was charged with the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits over 5.1 innings. Breanna Izzo came on in relief for the Black Knights in the fourth inning and claimed the victory.
 
Senior Day awaits the Leopards on Sunday when Lafayette hosts a doubleheader at noon. It is also Alumni Day at Metzgar Fields.