Softball Wins Two out of Three at Lafayette

The softball team was busy this past week, playing one game against Cornell, a double-header against Siena and a three game series against Lafayette. The Raiders finished the week with four wins and two losses.

In the first contest of the week against Cornell, senior outfielder Tera Vaughn gave Colgate the initial lead in the top of the second with a solo home run. The Cornell Big Red managed to answer with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, tying the score 1-1. Cornell took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, but sophomore catcher Mariel Schlaefer notched a home run in the top of the sixth to tie up the game again.

After going into extra innings, both teams earned runs in the eighth and ninth, bringing the game into the tenth inning. After first-year outfielder Tara Grennan advanced to third base,

first-year first baseman Alex Wilson brought her home with a single. Junior infielder Kate Zucker then hit a two-run homer before heading into the bottom of the inning. Cornell managed to score two runs in the final inning, but Colgate was able to hold onto their lead to secure the 7-6 win.

The following day, the Raiders came back to Hamilton for two home contests against Siena. Colgate started off strong in the bottom of the first inning with a few quick runs. Vaughn brought home Schlaefer and first-year outfielder Katie Bushee on a double to center field, and Grennan then brought the score to 4-0 with a home run.

In the bottom of the second, the Raiders scored two more runs. After junior catcher Alyssa Chaulklin hit a double, Bushee brought her home with a triple thanks to an error. Vaughn then brought Bushee home with a single before the end of the inning.

Siena began to rally in the top of the third with four straight singles, but Colgate secured the 10-2 win with runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

The Siena Saints had a strong start to their second game against Colgate,

earning a run and the initial lead in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, Colgate answered with three runs from Bushee, Schlaefer and senior captain Haley Fleming. The Raiders maintained this lead until the Saints came back to tie the score in the fifth inning.

In the following innings, the score remained tied despite multiple scoring opportunities for Colgate. Siena earned two runs in the final inning to take the 5-3 victory.

Following the loss to the Saints, the Raiders travelled to Easton, Pa. to take on the Lafayette Leopards in a three-game series. Grennan started off the first game with a home run in the top of the second, giving Colgate an early lead. With two outs and the bases loaded, sophomore captain Marisa Dowling hit a home run to bring the score to 5-0.

The Raiders held onto their lead for the remainder of the game, adding another run in the seventh inning while keeping the Leopards off the scoreboard. Colgate finished with a 6-0 shutout.

In the second game of the day, Fleming quickly got on base and was brought home by Schlaefer on a single. In the bottom of the first inning, Lafayette registered their only run of the game to tie up the score. Colgate came right back in the third inning with a two-run homer by Grennan after Vaughn got on base with a double.

Colgate earned two more runs in the fifth inning, proving too much for Lafayette to overcome. The Raiders therefore earned their second victory of the day with a score of 5-1.

The following day, Colgate took on Lafayette once again. Lafayette started off with two runs in the first inning, adding three more in the third and fourth inning to secure a 5-0 lead. Colgate rallied in the sixth inning when Schlaefer stole home after being advanced to third base by Vaughn. In the top of the seventh, Fleming tripled to score senior third baseman Eileen Ornousky and bring the score to 5-2, but the Raiders were not able to make the comeback that they needed, therefore ending the day with a 5-2 loss.

This weekend the Raiders will continue the league portion of their schedule with a pair of home games. The Boston University Terriers are in town, and the first pitch on both Saturday and Sunday will be 12 p.m. at Eaton Street Field.

        Contact Jack Murray at [email protected].