April 13, 2008
Box Score -- Game 1 | Box Score -- Game 2
WORCESTER, Mass. - The Lafayette softball team battled through two extra inning games at Holy Cross on Sunday to come out with a pair of 6-4 victories. The Leopards won the first game in 12 innings and it took 13 innings to decide the victor in the second.
Singles by sophomore Christina Giambrone, freshman Stacey Kushner and sophomore Kasey Karr loaded the bases in the 12th inning of the first game. With one out, senior Kristen Ruckno singled through right center for Kushner to score on the play, claiming a 5-4 lead. Karr scored on the following play for the 6-4 final with senior Sarah Price reaching first on a fielder's choice.
Lafayette scored in the first inning of the opening game with Giambrone registering a run off of Karr's double into right field for an early 1-0 lead. Holy Cross tied it up in the bottom of the second when Amanda Audette singled down the right field line for Sam Lenhardt to score (1-1). Karr was 4-for-6 in the first game with three RBI and two runs scored.
The Leopards and the Crusaders exchanged two runs apiece in the third inning to keep the game tied (3-3). Karr drilled her sixth home run out of Freshman Field for Lafayette's first run of the third inning. Freshman Ali Henry grounded out, but not before Ruckno would score for the 3-1 advantage. In the bottom of the third, Holy Cross scored two runs off of Kelly O'Neil's single to right field to tie the game at three runs a piece.
Each side scored a solo run in the fourth with Karr doubling to right center for junior Emma Kline to score and Holy Cross's Mandy Correale hitting a single up the middle for one run (4-4).
For the next seven innings played, the game would remain tied 4-4 until Ruckno's RBI single in the 12th inning. Following the fourth inning, Lafayette was held without a hit until the 11th frame. Caitlin Belanger (1-4) threw six shutout innings of the eight she threw.
Freshman Christine Hilcken (2-4) took over pitching duties at the beginning of the fourth inning for Henry who started the game for Lafayette. Hilcken threw nine innings, struck out five batters and allowed a single run.
Courtney Nealon tied the game for the Crusaders with an RBI single, forcing the latter game into extra innings. Holy Cross took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Lafayette scored both its runs in the third after RBI singles from Kushner and Ruckno to take a 2-1 edge. Entering the 13th inning, Lafayette and Holy Cross were tied 2-2 since the sixth.
The Leopards were held to three hits prior to a five-hit 13th inning. Freshman Kerry Griffin hit a two-run double into left field, breaking the tie and taking a 4-2 Lafayette lead. Junior Jessika Smith followed with a RBI single and advanced to second on the throw as Ruckno crossed home for a 5-2 lead. Griffin scored the final Leopard run (6-2) thanks to Price's sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the 13th, Holy Cross attempted a comeback, but fell it short. O'Neil hit a home run with one on base for the Crusaders. The Leopards closed the game as Natalie Cruz singled out to Karr and she struck out her 10th batter, Elizabeth Foley, for the 6-4 final.
Karr (7-5) threw all 13 innings for the Leopards and her ten strikeouts are a season-high, matching a career-high set on April 18 against Delaware State last season. She is now 4-1 against Patriot League opponents from the circle. Audette (6 IP) and Katie Alexander (7 IP) split time pitching for the Crusaders with Alexander (1-3) taking the loss.
Lafayette (15-15, 6-4) and Holy Cross (3-20, 1-5) resume playing tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Freshman Field in Worcester, Mass.
