EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — The Bucknell Bison erupted for a six-run third inning and rode a strong start from pitcher Brady Hoar to defeat the Lafayette Leopards 13-7 in Patriot League baseball action Monday at Kamine Stadium.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, saw the visiting Bison (18-11) sweep the three-game weekend series from their rivals. Lafayette fell to 7-20.

The most important sequence of the game came in the top of the third inning, breaking open what was a 3-0 contest. Billy Ty led off with a double and scored on Michael Trommer’s single. After an error extended the inning, designated hitter Garrett Mathias launched a three-run homer to right field, plating Trommer and Ty Lagoni, who had reached on the miscue. The blast turned a 3-0 lead into a commanding 8-0 advantage and chased Lafayette starter Ben Waterman.

Hoar earned the win for Bucknell, delivering five innings of three-run ball. He allowed just three hits, all in the second inning, and struck out three. His performance provided stability after a rough outing his last time out, when he allowed six earned runs against Lehigh on March 29.

Lafayette catcher Brandon Doubek was a bright spot in the loss, going 3 for 4 with two solo home runs. His first homer in the second inning put the Leopards on the board, and his second led off the sixth.

Bucknell’s offense, which finished with nine hits, was opportunistic, scoring five unearned runs. Trommer added a solo homer in the sixth, finishing 2 for 5 with three RBIs. Billy Fluharty also contributed two hits.

After Mathias’s third-inning homer, Lafayette relievers Braden Pomponi, Antonio Correa and Alex Payne combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings to keep the game within reach. The Leopards chipped away, scoring single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but could not overcome the early deficit.

Hadley Maxwell closed the game for Bucknell with two innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits while striking out four.

The Bison added insurance in the eighth, scoring two unearned runs on a fielder’s choice and a wild pitch, and tacked on two more in the ninth on an RBI bunt single by Ty and a sacrifice fly from Trommer.

Lafayette used seven pitchers in the game. Starter Ben Waterman took the loss.

The victory extends Bucknell’s winning streak to four games. The Bison are scheduled to host Mount Saint Mary’s on Wednesday. Lafayette will travel to face Navy in a four-game series beginning Friday.