Lafayette used a pair of three-run seventh innings to sweep the Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team on Wednesday evening at FDU Softball Field. The Knights fall to 5-16 overall, while the Leopards improve to a 13-15 record.

The Leopards put up a run in the first inning of the first game as Kristen Ruckno (Warrington, PA) put a double into center field to score Christina Giambrone (Blairstown, NJ), who reached base on a walk.

Hope Hilman (Bremerton, WA/Olympic) (Bremerton, WA) started the second inning for the Knights with a single that dropped into right field. With one out, Kristen Coughlan (Mount Royal, NJ/Kingsway) (Mount Royal, NJ) sent one over the left centerfield fence to give FDU a 2-1 advantage. The home run was Coughlan's second of the season.

In the top of the third inning, Ruckno knotted the game at 2-2 with a two-out RBI double to the left field fence, pushing Robyn Matchett (Sparta, NJ), who reached on a single, across the plate.

Lafayette took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth when Stacey Kushner (Norristown, PA), who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on a fly out by Ruckno to center field.

Lindsay Glidden (Peachtree City, GA/Starr's Mill) (Peachtree City, GA) tied the game in the sixth inning, smacking one over the fence for her first home run of the season.

Giambrone and Ruckno took control for the Leopards in the top of the seventh, smashing back-to-back doubles, with Ruckno plating Giambrone. Kerry Griffin (Allenhurst, NJ) hit an RBI double and Sara Price (Wilton, CT) pushed her across the plate with a single to left field.

Hilman and Maria Finnegan (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) (Sewell, NJ) each went 2-for-3. Trina Fields (Norridge, IL/Ridgewood) (Norridge, IL) took the loss, pitching a complete game and striking out five.

In the third inning of the second game, Lafayette took the lead as Emma Kline (New Hope, PA) reached on an error and scored on Giambrone's single.

Jennifer Boldman (Winter Haven, FL/Winter Haven) (Winter Haven, FL) started the bottom of the inning with a single, stole second and then scored when Keltos tied the game with an RBI single to right field.

Meghan Doherty (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) (Binghamton, NY) gave FDU a 2-1 advantage knocking an RBI single through the right side to plate Keltos.

The Leopards knotted the score at two in the top of the fourth inning as Karr led off with a single and was advanced with a sacrifice bunt from Griffin, scoring on an error.

In the fifth, Kushner scored to take a 3-2 lead for Lafayette, but FDU responded in the bottom of the inning as Boldman scored her second run of the game on a single from Keltos.

FDU had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth with two on, but were unable to convert.

Giambrone's two-out two-run home run in the top of the seventh gave the Leopards a 5-3 edge and Ruckno tacked on another run with a home run just inside the foul pole to make the final 6-3.

Ashley Buchanan (West Windsor, NY/West Windsor) (West Windsor, NY), on the mound for the Knights, scattered only five innings through 6.2 innings. She allowed three earned runs and struck out two while giving up no walks. Keltos finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Each team had seven hits.

“We were in the game and we had our moments to win it,” said Head Coach Dale Martin. “What we have to continue to do is play with more intensity and more heart.”

“We just need people to continue to take turns stepping up,” said Martin. “That will be crucial in getting those key hits and making big plays. It's about maintaining belief that we are still in this- we are competitive, but we need to push ourselves to get over the hump.”

The Knights will host Sacred Heart in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 12 at 1:00 p.m.