April 6, 2005

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Neither team allowed a run through the first seven innings of either game, but Drexel held Lafayette scoreless in the top of the eighth and produce the winning run in the bottom half of both games for a pair of 1-0 victories on Wednesday afternoon in Philadelphia.

Drexel senior Elizabeth Fuller and Lafayette freshman Therese Taraschi blanked the opposition for seven innings in the opener. The Dragons had the best scoring opportunity in the sixth, taking advantage of a Leopard error, a sacrifice bunt and a groundout to put a runner on third, but Taraschi induced a fly ball to end the inning. Drexel had runners on first and second after back-to-back one-out singles in the seventh before Lafayette got out of the inning with a fly out and a line out.

Amy Levinson was placed on second in the top half of the eighth and Amy Gimma reached on an error that advanced the runner to third. Two groundouts to the first baseman and Fuller's 12th strikeout of the game kept the Leopards at bay.

Leadoff hitter Karen Morizi went to second to start the home half of the inning and promptly stole third. After a groundout to short, Fuller singled to center to bring home the winning run.

Fellow senior Krista VanWert struck out 12 batters in the second game as well, retiring the side on strikes in the first to pitch around a leadoff single by Michelle Ellis. Sophomore Megan Averbuch was in the circle for the Leopards and allowed just three hits before running into trouble in the sixth.

A walk, a single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Drexel, but a fly out to Ellis in center ended the inning. Kristen Ruckno collected a one-out single in Lafayette's half of the seventh but the `Pards were unable to capitalize.

Levinson went to second for Lafayette in the top of the eighth and Kathryn Longshore reached on an infield single to put runners at the corners. Jackie Fitzgerald hit a ground ball to first, and Levinson was thrown out at home. Another groundout gave the Leopards runners at second and third, but VanWert got a strikeout to get out of the inning.

Lena Aiken was put on second for Drexel in its half of the frame, and a bunt by Amanda Hastings moved her to third. VanWert lofted a fly ball to left and Aiken came home with for the game-winner.

Lafayette will travel to Hamilton, N.Y. on Saturday for four weekend games with Colgate. It will be the middle series in Patriot League play, as six member institutions sponsor softball.