April 20, 2005
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (www.lafayette.edu) - A pair of big innings spelled doom for the Leopards in both ends of a softball doubleheader on Wednesday, as Wagner recorded 9-4 and 8-1 victories in non-league play.
The Seahawks scored eight in the third inning of the opener, as Kim Bruckner followed two hits and three walks with a grand slam to stake Wagner to a 6-0 lead. Victoria Batistelli hit a two-run homer three batters later before Lafayette got out of the inning.
The Leopards scored in the fourth as Kristen Ruckno led off with a double and scored on an error, and again in the fifth when Michelle Ellis doubled to bring Therese Taraschi home.
Wagner extended its lead to 9-2 in the sixth, and Lafayette got two in the seventh for the final margin. Amy Gimma drew a leadoff walk, Taraschi singled, and Lauren Belowich belted a double to score the first run. Taraschi scored on a passed ball before pitcher Morgan Miller settled down to record the last three outs.
Megan Averbuch threw three innings and suffered the loss for Lafayette, while Taraschi also came on for three innings of work. Miller improved her record to 13-5 and allowed two earned runs.
Back-to-back doubles by Ruckno and Jill Masterton gave Lafayette an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first in the second game, and Belowich made it stand up until the bottom of the fifth. Wagner leveled the score using a hit, a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error.
The Seahawks erupted for seven runs in the sixth to break the deadlock and claim an 8-1 advantage. Seven different players collected a hit in the inning, with Kate Refsnyder and Christy Sykora coming up with two-run singles.
Dara Gadziala gave up just five hits to earn the win for Wagner, which improved its season record to 22-10. Lafayette falls to 9-32 with the setbacks.
The Leopards will travel to Bucknell for Patriot League action on Saturday and Sunday, as the Bison hold a two-game lead on Lafayette for the final spot in the league tournament.
