April 5, 2005
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette completed its season series on the softball diamond with Lehigh on Tuesday afternoon, losing a tight 6-4 game in the opener before falling 11-0 in the nightcap.
Leadoff hitter Michelle Ellis got things going right away for the Leopards, drawing a walk and stealing second and third to start the afternoon. A base hit by Jill Masterton brought Ellis home, and Kristen Ruckno doubled to score Masterton to give Lafayette a 2-0 lead.
Kate Marvel, who was 4-for-5 on the day for Lehigh, singled and scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first. A single from Lauren Haney plated Jessica Young to knot the score at 2-2.
Masterton and Ruckno both singled for Lafayette in the third, and Masterton scored on an infield single by Amy Levinson. The Leopards went ahead 4-2 in the fourth as Ellis and Masterton collected base hits, and Ellis came around to score on a throwing error while Masterton stole second.
Lehigh came back to tie the score at 4-4 in the bottom half as Julie Sterrett led off with a triple and scored on a single by Mendy Martin. A base hit by Marvel brought Ali Linsk home, who entered the game as a pinch runner.
Both sides held in the fifth and Emily Ling entered the game for Lehigh to pitch the sixth and seventh. After holding the Leopards in the top of the inning, the Mountain Hawks struck for two runs in the bottom half. Taryn Hanley's bunt single allowed Whitney Schenbeck to score, and Marvel came home on a sacrifice fly for an insurance run and a 6-4 lead.
Ling retired the Leopards in order in the seventh and was credited with the win, her 11th of the year. Megan Averbuch threw all six innings for Lafayette and struck out five batters.
Ling and Stefanie Forlenza combined on the shutout in the second game as Lehigh (22-4, 8-0) scored at least two runs in each inning. Britt Swanson was the only Mountain Hawk to collect two hits, while nine other batters had one hit each.
Ruckno was 2-for-2 for the Leopards (5-20, 2-6) and went 2-for-4 in the first game. Fellow freshman Amy Gimma was 2-for-3 in the opener.
Lafayette will play at Drexel on Wednesday before heading to Hamilton, N.Y. for a weekend Patriot League series with Colgate on Saturday and Sunday, April 9-10.
