This past week, the Colgate softball team took on Syracuse and Boston University. The Raiders fell to the Syracuse Orange at home on Thursday and then hosted the BU Terriers for a three-game series over the weekend, finishing with three more tough losses.

Syracuse started off the day with a big first inning, scoring two home runs right away to earn an early 2-0 lead. Throughout the following five innings, the Orange brought their lead to 8-0 before the Raiders began to rally in the sixth.

With a home run to center field in the sixth inning, first-year outfielder Katie Bushee put Colgate on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, this would be the only Colgate run. Although sophomore first baseman Anna Olson got on base after getting hit by a pitch, BU managed to close the inning without giving up any more runs.

In the top of the seventh inning, Syracuse secured the win as they scored three more runs, bringing the final score to 11-1.

On Friday, the Raiders began their three-game series against the BU Terriers. Colgate took the initial lead with a run in the first inning. After being walked, Bushee stole second base to reach scoring position. With two outs in the inning, senior outfielder Tera Vaughn singled to score Bushee and earn a 1-0 lead for the Raiders.In the following inning, BU had a big opportunity to tie up the game with two runners on base. However, sophomore shortstop Marisa Dowling recorded the third out to strand the runners and

maintain Colgate’s lead.

Colgate earned another run in fifth inning. Senior third baseman Eileen Ornousky hit a double with one out, which was followed by a double from Bushee to bring her home and advance Colgate’s lead to 2-0.

The sixth inning was a big one for the Terriers, as they registered five runs to earn a lead of 5-2. BU held onto their lead in the final two innings to ultimately secure the victory over Colgate.

In their second contest of the day, Colgate took the initial lead once again. Bushee led off the inning with a single, and then advanced to second after a bunt from senior captain Haley Fleming. She then stole third, allowing her to reach home after Dowling’s single up the middle, giving Colgate a 1-0 lead.

The Terriers scored three runs in the following inning to take the lead, and then went on to score five more runs in the

remainder of the game to secure the win. Despite another initial Colgate lead, BU ended the day with an 8-1 win. The following day, Colgate and BU matched up for the final game of their series. The first four and a half innings were scoreless, with sophomore pitcher Brigit Ieuter allowing only three hits. Colgate was once again first on the scoreboard after a two-run homer from Fleming, marking her first home run of the season.

However, BU came back strong in the sixth with three runs, taking the lead and beginning ultimately securing the win four runs in the seventh inning. Colgate had runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but BU got the outs that they needed to end the game on top with a 7-2 victory. This weekend the Raiders begin to wind down their Patriot League portion of the schedule. After hosting the Bucknell Bison, Saturday April 26, for Alumni Day, the Raiders will host Senior Day at the Eaton Street Field with a 12 p.m. start on Sunday April 27.

Contact Jack Murray at [email protected].