EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — In a wild Patriot League opener of a Saturday doubleheader that defied projections and featured a dominant pitching performance nearly undone by a frantic ninth-inning rally, Lehigh held off Lafayette 8-7 at Kamine Stadium on April 18, 2026.

The game’s defining stretch was a chaotic bottom of the ninth inning where Lafayette, down 8-4 and facing its final three outs, scored three times without recording a hit, bringing the potential tying run to the plate before finally succumbing.

Lehigh appeared to have sealed the victory after scoring four runs in the top of the ninth to build an 8-4 cushion. Dom Patrizi hit an RBI double and later scored, while Jack Frankovic and Max Dantoni added run-scoring singles. The Mountain Hawks, who finished with 14 hits, seemed secure.

However, the Leopards mounted a relentless and bizarre comeback in their final at-bat. Pinch-hitter Teddy Cashman walked and scored on a wild pitch. Will Dobil, who had singled, also scored on a second wild pitch. Brandon Doubek, who had walked, scored on Bode Fernsler’s RBI double, suddenly cutting the deficit to 8-7 with the tying run on second base. Lehigh reliever Declan Wilkes, who entered with the bases loaded and one out, finally ended the threat by striking out Charlie Chropuvka looking.

The dramatic finish overshadowed a masterful starting performance from Lehigh’s Cole Leaman. The right-hander delivered six dominant innings, allowing no hits and one unearned run while striking out 10 batters. He set the tone early, retiring 10 consecutive Leopards at one point after allowing a first-inning run. This outing was a stark turnaround from his previous start on April 11 against Army, where he allowed five hits and two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Lehigh built its lead methodically. Patrizi hit a solo home run in the second inning. The Mountain Hawks added two more in the fourth on an RBI double from Silvio Giardina and a run-scoring single from Robbie Carvelli. They manufactured another run in the seventh on Ian Wirtz’s sacrifice fly.

Lafayette, which managed nine hits, struggled against Leaman but chipped away. They scored an unearned run in the third on an RBI single from Dobil. The Leopards then closed the gap to 4-2 in the eighth when Doubek launched a two-run homer off reliever Cole Kochanowicz, setting the stage for the wild final inning.

Lafayette reliever James Reese provided a strong bridge, throwing three innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts. Doubek finished with three RBIs for the Leopards, while Frankovic went 4 for 5 with an RBI for Lehigh. Giardina drove in two runs.

The victory improved Lehigh’s overall record to 11-25, while Lafayette fell to 8-28. The outcome contrasted sharply with pregame projections from Interstat, whose simulator had predicted a 4-1 Lehigh win and gave the Mountain Hawks a 57.3% probability of victory. It also avenged Lehigh’s 4-2 loss to the Leopards just one day prior.

The two teams were set to conclude the doubleheader immediately following the game, with another single game scheduled for Sunday to finish the three-game series.