LEWISBURG, Pa. – Despite a late-inning power surge that featured two home runs, Lafayette baseball dropped an 8-5 decision at Bucknell on Friday afternoon in the Patriot League opener.

The Bison took control early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Bucknell extended its advantage in the third inning when John Calabrese delivered a two-run double, followed by an RBI-double from Andrew Swenson in the fifth to push the lead to 5-0.

Lafayette broke through in the sixth inning. Alex Barrist sparked the offense with a single up the middle and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Matt Colella to make the tally, 5-1. In the seventh, the Leopards added another run as Brandon Doubek drew a walk and eventually crossed the plate on a groundout by Will Dobil for a 5-2 score.

Trailing 6-2 in the eighth, the Leopards narrowed the gap to two. Liam Ebbs reached on an error before Jack Mislan launched a two-run home run to left center field to bringing the Leopards within 6-4. Bucknell answered in the bottom half of the frame with two runs to regain an 8-4 cushion.

Doubek led off the ninth with a solo home run , but the Leopards could inch any closer in the 8-5 final.

Jonathan Adelmann earned the mound win, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out 10 over seven innings. Tristan Helmick took the loss after surrendering five runs on 11 hits  with three strikeouts in five innings.

The Maroon and White continue their series with Bucknell on Saturday at 1 p.m.