March 23, 2004

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette recorded just one hit in an 8-0 loss in the opener, but rallied behind a complete-game shutout by sophomore Lauren Belowich (Edison, N.J./J.P. Stevens) to win the second game 1-0 in a softball doubleheader at Metzgar Field on Tuesday.

Lafayette is now 4-2 in one-run games this season, including 3-2 in games in which the final score is 1-0.

St. Joseph's Dana Travis kept the Leopard bats quiet in game one, striking out seven while allowing only a lead-off single by Abby Weichert (Glen Rock, Pa./Susquehannock) in the bottom of the first inning.

The Hawks (6-12) took the lead for good in the second inning with Lauren Pachioli's sacrifice fly bringing in Robin Berry and Travis helping her own cause with a run-scoring single. St. Joseph's added another run in the sixth, then exploded for five in the top of the seventh to seal the win. Berry was 2-for-4 with a triple, scored twice and drove in a pair.

Belowich set the Hawks down in order in each of the first three innings of game two and nearly scored Lafayette's first run. With runners on second and third and one out, Gianna Lopreato (Belleville, N.J./Montclair-Kimberly) hit a grounder that the St. Joseph's second baseman scooped and fired home to nail Belowich at the plate. The Leopards would later load the bases in the same inning, but Lauren Hughes pitched out of the jam.

Lafayette (4-8) finally dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. Laura Schrager (Montclair, N.J./Montclair-Kimberly) led off with a single, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tara Martinho (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South). Following a groundout, freshman catcher Kathryn Longshore (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) launched a double that one-hopped off the right field fence and scored Schrager.

Belowich gave up a pair of hits in the seventh, but back-to-back fly balls to Erin Pawlak (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant) ended the threat.

Belowich scattered five hits and struck out five in the win. She moves to 2-2 on the season and her earned-run average drops to 1.83. Schrager and Diane Mitchell (Bath, Pa./Northampton) both collected a pair of hits to lead the offense.

Lafayette is back in action on Thursday, visiting Penn in a non-league doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m.