EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — In a Patriot League contest defined by dominant pitching and capitalized opportunities, the Lafayette Leopards defeated the Lehigh Mountain Hawks 4-2 on Friday evening at Kamine Stadium.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded under the lights, saw Lafayette improve to 8-26 overall, while Lehigh fell to 9-25.

The most important part of the game was the early offensive response by Lafayette, which erased a two-run deficit in the bottom of the first inning and never trailed again. After Lehigh scratched across a run in the top of the frame on an RBI single by Ian Wirtz, the Leopards answered immediately against Lehigh starter Max Treonze. Alex Barrist led off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Matt Colella then drove him in with a single to left. Colella stole second and scored on a sharp single by catcher Brandon Doubek, tying the game.

Lafayette seized the lead for good in the second inning without a hit. Luke Caucci reached on a bunt single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. After a walk and a stolen base by Barrist, a wild pitch allowed Caucci to score the unearned run. The Leopards added a critical insurance run in the third, again aided by a Lehigh error. Colella reached on a miscue by the shortstop, stole second and scored on another RBI single from Doubek.

That offense was more than enough for Lafayette starter Tristan Helmick, who delivered his best performance of the season. The right-hander struck out 14 batters over seven strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks. He worked out of jams in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings, including stranding the potential tying runs on base in his final frame. His 14-strikeout effort was a stark turnaround from his previous start, a loss at Navy where he allowed six earned runs in three innings.

Helmick yielded to reliever Owen Basso, who closed the door over the final two innings. Basso struck out five of the seven batters he faced, allowing just two singles in the eighth before a perfect ninth to secure the victory.

Lehigh’s Treonze was the hard-luck loser, pitching effectively despite the loss. He went eight innings, surrendering four runs, only two of which were earned, on seven hits. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk. Lehigh’s offense managed seven hits, with Robbie Carvelli collecting two, including an RBI single in the seventh that brought the Mountain Hawks within two runs. The team, however, stranded multiple runners and struck out 18 times collectively against the Lafayette pitching duo.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 4-1 Lehigh victory and whose ELO system gave the Mountain Hawks a 58.1 percent probability to win.

The two teams will continue their three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday.