The softball team traveled to the University of North Carolina Wilmington to compete in a four-game tournament this past weekend. The Leopards went 1-3, losing to Georgetown University, Iona University and UNCW, but winning the rematch against the Hoyas.
The Leopards (1-8 overall) opened their play on Friday, facing Georgetown (3-3 overall) and Iona (1-8 overall). Senior catcher Maggie Klug singled to drive in the first Leopard run in the top of the second, and freshman outfielder Ava Butler scored on a Hoya error to mount a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Georgetown cut the deficit on the fifth-inning infield single and jumped out on top in the sixth with a two-run single, taking the 3-2 lead. The Leopards loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh but left all three runners stranded — striking out twice and grinding out — to lose a game where they left 10 total on base.
In Friday afternoon’s game, Iona belted off a pair of two-run RBI singles in the third inning to create separation. The Maroon and White answered with two runs, including an RBI double from senior infielder Dani Rosner and a sacrifice fly by senior infielder Kylee Sweet to pull close the gap to 4-2, but the Gaels added another run in the sixth and limited the Leopards over the final frames, securing a 5-2 win.
Saturday morning, the Leopards bounced back with a 7-5 victory to even the series versus Georgetown. Sweet broke through in the bottom of the third inning, launching a two-out double to deep center, clearing both runners on base. Junior infielder Regan Dillon followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0.
The Leopards tacked on three more in the fourth when sophomore infielder Caroline Hall launched a three-run homer, the first of her collegiate career, extending the advantage to 6-0. Despite three sixth-inning Hoya runs, Lafayette added an insurance run in the sixth off a double from senior outfielder Olivia Catalina push the lead to 7-3.
In the circle, junior pitcher Parker Rowden earned her first win of the season, working six innings and allowing three runs on seven hits. Georgetown attempted a final-inning push, adding two in the seventh, but freshman pitcher Andy Hegarty came to Rowden’s relief to secure the Leopards’ first victory of the season.
The Leopards faced UNCW (8-5 overall) on Saturday evening in what would turn out to be the final matchup of the tournament. Lafayette trailed the Seahawks 3-0 through the first four innings, surrendering three RBI hits. At the top of the fifth, Butler singled to lead off the inning, and junior infielder Katie Harrington drove her in with an RBI triple before scoring on a passed ball to cut the Leopard deficit to one. The Seahawks answered with two runs in the sixth to pull away for a 5-2 final.
Sunday’s scheduled rematch against Iona was canceled due to the impending winter storm in the Northeast, sending the Leopards home early.
The Maroon and White will return to North Carolina this weekend to compete in the Spring in the Springs tournament, hosted by Gardner-Webb University.