April 29, 2007
Game 1
Game 2
EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette softball home season finale was spoiled on Sunday, as Army held on for a 6-5 victory in the first game and a 4-2 triumph in the nightcap.
In the first game, the Leopards trailed 2-1 going into the bottom half of the second inning. From there, Lafayette sparked a four-run inning to jump into control of the game for the time being. A two-out double by Christina Giambrone coupled with a Kristen Ruckno triple and Kasey Karr RBI single gave the Leopards a 5-2 advantage going into the third inning.
Lafayette held the three-run cushion until Army fought back in the top of the fifth inning. A leadoff bunt single by Debbie Medintz started the Black Knight rally. A single followed by an RBI double by Lindsey Gerheim. After Karr took a line drive that deflected off her head, the Leopards called on freshman pitcher Aimee Dassner with runners on second and third.
Dassner surrendered two more Army runs before striking out the final two batters of the inning to end the Army threat. Dassner only allowed three hits, while striking out four in two and two-thirds relief effort.
In the nightcap, Army used a second inning run to take a 1-0 lead going into the top half of the fourth inning. From there, the Black Knights added a few insurance runs. Erin McClain led off with a double. A Lafayette error on the following play left runners on first and third with no outs. A Cassie Ellington RBI single to right field advanced teammate Veronica Barth to third.
On the ensuing pitch, Ellington broke for second. As she slid in safely, Barth came charging home and avoided the tag to give Army a 3-0 advantage. The Black Knights would add another run to take a 4-0 lead.
The Leopards tried to mount a comeback in their half of the sixth. Back-to-back singles from Christina Giambrone and Kristen Ruckno led off the inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Allison LoBello smacked an RBI single through the left side, scoring Ruckno. Kat Longshore came to the plate and roped a single over the Army second basemen to score Karr.
However, Army worked its way out of the jam, turning a double play to end the Leopard threat and hold on for the 4-2 victory.
Karr provided three and two-thirds of one hit ball in relief for senior Megan Averbuch. Stauffer led the Black Knights on the mound, throwing six innings and only surrendering two runs.
The Leopards turn their attention to one final out-of-conference date, traveling to Drexel on May 2. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.
NOTES: A pre-game ceremony to honor the Lafayette softball class of 2007 was held before the game. This year's four seniors included Megan Averbuch, Jill Masterton, Kathryn Longshore and Michelle Ellis.
