EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette baseball hosted Bucknell on Senior Day. The Leopards dropped both halves of a hard-fought doubleheader to the Bison, falling 5-3 in game one and 4-3 in game two at Kamine Stadium.

Prior to the first game, the nine senior members of the Class of 2025 were honored: #1 Ben Petrone, #3 Kaleb Willis, #7 Easton Brenner, #16 Michael Zarrillo, #17 Mike Romano, #28 Corey Savedoff, #30 Trevor Dutra, #35 Joe Skapinetz and #37 Jack McMullen.

The Bison started the scoring in the third inning as Ryan Facinelli hit an RBI-single to left center field, and then later in the inning, Chris Morabito belted a two-run home run to right field, giving Bucknell a 3-0 lead.

In the fifth, the Bison added two runs to their lead on an RBI-triple by Facinelli and a Lafayette error, making the score 5-0.

The Leopards got on the board in the bottom of fifth, cutting the Bison lead to 5-2 on a two-run home run to left field by freshman Jack Mislan.

In the seventh, Lafayette drove in a run on an RBI-single to left field by freshman Liam Ebbs that scored senior Michael Zarrillo. The Leopards were unable to push another run across the plate in the seventh, making the final score 5-3.

Tyler O'Neill earned the win, working 7.0 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out four. Joe Skapinetz took the loss, pitching 5.2 innings, surrendering seven hits and five runs, while striking out nine.

In game two, Bucknell again got on the board first. In the first inning, Tyler Dunn doubled to right field, scoring Billy Kender and giving the Bison a 1-0 lead.

In the second, junior Ryan Ulisse put the Leopards in front on a two-run home run to right field, giving Lafayette a 2-1 advantage.

Bucknell knotted the game up 2-2 in the third on a solo home run to right field by Brady Karp.  

The home run derby continued in the fourth as Mislan hit his second home run of the day, a solo home run down the left field line that hit off of the foul pole, giving Lafayette a 3-2 lead.

In the fifth, Bucknell took back the lead. Facinelli hit an RBI-double down the left field line and Bill Fluharty drove in another run on an infield single, bringing the tally to 4-3.

Both pitching staffs combined for four straight scoreless innings to conclude the game, and the final score remained at 4-3.

Ben Magovern got the win, tossing 6.0 innings, surrendering five hits, three runs and striking out three. Jonathan Adelmann earned the save, working 2.1 scoreless innings and striking out three. Junior Trace Florio took the loss, pitching 5.0 innings, giving up two runs on five hits, and recording four strikeouts.

The Leopards close out their series against Bucknell on Sunday, with a game scheduled for a 9 a.m. start.