EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — The Lafayette Leopards capitalized on a chaotic first inning and rode a strong relief outing from Owen Basso to a 7-3 victory over the rival Lehigh Mountain Hawks in Patriot League baseball action Sunday at Kamine Stadium.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, saw Lafayette improve to 9-28 overall, while Lehigh fell to 11-26.

The decisive frame was the bottom of the first. After Lehigh starter Jackson Shepelsky recorded an out, the Leopards’ offense erupted for four runs, only one of which was earned. Will Dobil was hit by a pitch, Matt Colella singled and Brandon Doubek drove in Dobil with an RBI single. The inning then unraveled for Lehigh when Charlie Chropuvka reached on a two-run error by the left fielder, allowing both Colella and Doubek to score. Chropuvka then came home on a wild pitch to stake Lafayette to a 4-0 lead before Lehigh had recorded a hit.

Lehigh chipped away with single runs in the fourth and seventh innings. In the fourth, Max Dantoni’s fielder’s choice brought home Dom Patrizi, and Silvio Giardina followed with an RBI single to score Dantoni. In the seventh, catcher Owen Walewander launched a solo home run to left field off Lafayette starter Ben Waterman, cutting the deficit to 6-3.

Waterman earned the win, working six innings and allowing three runs on 10 hits. He was relieved by Basso, who delivered a critical three-inning save. Basso allowed just two hits and struck out four, shutting down any chance of a Lehigh rally over the final three frames.

Lafayette added an insurance run in the seventh when Doubek, who finished 3 for 5, drove in Colella with his second RBI single of the game, making it 7-3.

Lehigh’s bullpen provided a bright spot after the rough start. Jake Mulvehill entered in the second inning and delivered 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits and striking out five. Brandon Coughlin and Ralph Gariano also contributed scoreless outings. The Mountain Hawks out-hit the Leopards 12 to 11 but stranded 10 baserunners and grounded into two double plays.

The victory gave Lafayette a split of the four-game weekend series after Lehigh won both games of a doubleheader on Saturday. The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 4-1 Lehigh win and gave the Mountain Hawks a 57.8% probability of victory.

Lehigh next plays at Saint Peter’s on Wednesday. Lafayette travels to face Wagner on Tuesday.