April 19, 2003
Box Score Game One
Box Score Game Two
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Pitching and defense dominated the Lafayette-Holy Cross softball doubleheader as the Crusaders came away with 2-0 and 2-1 wins in Patriot League action on Saturday afternoon at Metzgar Field.
The Crusaders and Leopards both started with hot bats in the first inning, as each team smacked two hits in its half of the first. Suzanna Friel and Melissa Beshire each tallied a base hit for Holy Cross, while Gianna Lopreato and Mara Shainheit registered singles for the Leopards. However, neither team could get a run across the plate.
Holy Cross finally broke through in the top half of the third inning. Mary Beth Ryan and Beshire both singled to put runners at first and third. Megan Lally came through with an RBI single to right to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead. Nicole Dessingue got the team's fourth hit of the inning, but Beshire was thrown out at the plate to end the inning and keep it a one-run game.
The Crusaders threatened again in the fourth, but again the Leopard defense shined. With runners at first and third and only one out, Ryan flew out to center. Alyssa Hayden tried to score from third on the play, but Shainheit showcased her arm and gunned Hayden down at the plate to get the Leopards out of the inning.
The Lafayette bats showed signs of life with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Becky Foley smashed a double to right center and then Meghan Davis followed with a single, but the Leopards couldn't get the key hit and stranded both runners.
Holy Cross added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Lally singled home pinch runner Akemi Topel to stretch the lead to 2-0.
Crusader pitcher Nicole Vitti took care of the Leopards in the bottom of the seventh, recording two of her 11 strikeouts in the inning. Vitti scattered seven hits and did not allow a run in picking up her sixth win of the season.
Megan Longo proved to be the hard-luck loser, surrendering two runs on 11 hits while striking out three to fall to 0-4 on the season.
In the nightcap, Lafayette got on the board first with a run in the bottom half of the third. With two outs, Lopreato doubled to the left center gap and Laura Schrager followed with an RBI single to give the Leopards a 1-0 lead.
Lopreato also showed off her glove in the top of the fourth. With two runners on and nobody out, Lopreato snagged a hard grounder by Dessingue, tagged Michelle Greene who was on her way to second and then threw out Dessingue at first to complete the double play and preserve the Leopard lead.
Alycia FitzPatrick started the Holy Cross comeback in the fifth with an infield single. Jean Connolly then capped the rally by driving the ball over the right field wall for a two-run homer, putting the Crusaders ahead 2-1.
Lafayette fought back in the bottom of the sixth. Schrager drew a lead-off walk and then stole second. After a strikeout, Schrager advanced to third on a groundout. But a Leopard pop-up ended the inning and left the tying run at third.
Lauren Belowich took the loss for the Leopards, dropping to 4-10 on the season. She allowed eight hits and two runs, while striking out eight batters.
Greene improved to 4-7 for Holy Cross, giving up just two hits and amassing 13 strikeouts.
Lafayette (5-23, 1-11) and Holy Cross (10-16, 6-3) will meet again on Sunday at Metzgar Field for an 11 a.m. doubleheader.
