April 16, 2002
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) -
Lafayette edged Delaware State to sweep a doubleheader series in softball action on Tuesday at Metzgar Field. The Leopards took game one, 3-2, after eight innings and won a hitting battle for an 18-17 win in the nightcap.
In game one, Lafayette's Jackie Fitzgerald connected for an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning to give the Leopards a 1-0 lead. Delaware State came back to take a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning on an RBI double from Tameka Robinson and a sacrifice fly from Patty Brown that scored Jen Atkins and Jaleah Brown.
Lafayette fought back to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on freshman Diane Mitchell's triple down the third base line that allowed Mara Shainheit to cross the plate. With the game tied, 2-2, after regulation, the tiebreaker rule placed Laura Schrager at second base. Freshman Danielle Bernotsky advanced Schrager to third on a sacrifice bunt, and senior Liz Lucisano belted a sacrifice fly to left field allowing the winning run to score for the 3-2 win.
Fitzgerald was 1-of-1 from the plate with an RBI while Lucisano and Mitchell added a hit and a RBI each. DSU's Robinson recorded a hit and an RBI for the Lady Hornets. Lafayette's Amy Magos earned the win on the mound.
Both teams exploded offensively in game two with Lafayette registering 14 hits and 18 runs while Delaware State notched 21 hits and 17 runs on the day. Lafayette took a 4-3 lead after the first inning led by Erin Allison's two-RBI double to center field. After Lafayette's three-run effort in the second inning, Delaware State scored four innings in the top of the third inning. Lafayette responded with five innings in the bottom half of the third inning on a string of DSU errors and a Shainheit RBI single to left field.
Delaware State took its first lead of the game, 13-12, on a six-run effort in the top of the fourth inning. Carol McCray knocked a two-RBI triple to right field and Atkins doubled to center field for three RBI. In the bottom half of the fourth, Shainheit hit a single to left field, allowing Schrager to score while pinch runner Stacy Brewer reached home on a bases-loaded walk to bring give the Leopards a 14-13 lead.
Sophomore Megan Longo belted her first career home run to give Lafayette its only run in the fifth inning to tie stretch the lead, 15-13. After a scoreless sixth inning, Delaware State knocked in four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 17-15 lead.
Longo started the bottom of the seventh inning by reaching base on walk while Becky Foley got to first on a DSU error. Schrager's sacrifice bunt moved the runners to scoring position and Bernotsky loaded the bases after being intentionally walked. Lucisano smacked a line drive down the first base line that glanced off the first baseman's glove, allowing Bernotsky, Foley and pinch runner Abby Weichert to cross the plate for the winning run.
Bernotsky led Lafayette on 4-of-4 hitting from the plate while Lucisano knocked in six RBI. Shainheit added three hits for two RBI while Leigh Minarick added three RBI on one hit. Longo earned the win on the mound.
McCray led Delaware State with five RBI on three hits.
Lafayette (5-22) returns to action on Saturday when it hosts archrival Lehigh for a Patriot League doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
