May 11, 2008

Box Score -- Game 1 | Box Score -- Game 2 | | Photo Gallery

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Freshman Kerry Griffin's two-run double in the fourth inning of the first game gave Lafayette a 2-1 edge. The Leopards held onto the one run advantage to force a second game on Sunday at Kaufman Field. Lehigh scored 10 runs off of 15 hits to win the Patriot League Championship 10-3 over the Leopards in the second game.

Lafayette did not have hit against Lehigh's Lisa Sweeney until the fourth inning when sophomore Christina Giambrone hit a single down the left field line. Sophomore Kasey Karr reached first on a fielder's choice and both scored off of Griffin's double into left field.

Lafayette remained ahead 2-1 after holding Lehigh to three hits and denying a Mountain Hawk past second base in the final two innings. The Brown and White did score first in game with an unearned run by Taryn Hanley for a 1-0 lead.

Through the first three innings Lehigh managed a single hit in each frame and left four runners on base. The Mountain Hawks collected three more hits in the final three innings for seven in the game.

Griffin, Giambrone and senior Kristen Ruckno combined for a double play in the final inning getting Alisha Gonazales and Sweeney out on the play. With two outs, Whitney Lowe hit a single through the right side, but was left at first as Hanley flied out to junior Robyn Matchett in right field. Lafayette forced a second game to decide the Patriot League championship after giving Lehigh its first loss of the tournament with a 2-1 score.

Freshman Ali Henry collected the win, her 12th of the season, tying her with Karr's 12 win season from last year. Twelve wins is second best on Lafayette's all-time single-season record list.

Henry also pitched in the second game, coming in during the second inning after Lehigh jumped out to a two-run lead (5-3). Karr started the game and allowed seven hits with only two runs earned.

Lafayette put up one run in the first inning with Matchett coming home on a sacrifice fly by Ruckno. The Brown and White responded with a three-run bottom half to take a 3-1 advantage.

Freshman Stacey Kushner drove in two runs with a single to centerfield to tie the game 3-3 in the second inning. Lehigh's Alex Cueva hit a two-run single to recapture the lead (5-3). Henry stepped in after Sweeney hit a single into right field, advancing runners to second and third base. The Lafayette defense held Lehigh without another run with Gonzales reaching first as Ruckno threw Carly Potock out at home.

Lehigh scored three runs in the third inning with two outs on the board claiming an 8-3 lead after a pair of RBI singles and a Cueva RBI double.

Lafayette managed one more hit in the game a Karr single in the fifth inning before Lehigh put two more runs on the board in the sixth inning for the 10-3 final.

Giambrone, Henry and Griffin were named to the All-Tournament team for Lafayette who finished as the Patriot League Tournament runner-ups for the first time in program history.

The Leopards concludes a record breaking season with a new program-best 27 wins after Sunday's 2-1 victory over Lehigh. Ruckno and third baseman Sarah Price complete their softball careers on College Hill after playing in a combined 328 games.

Ruckno is the Lafayette record holder in hits (178), doubles (33), home runs (26), runs (94) and walks (73). The Warrington, Pa. native also has the record for most RBI in a career with 111 after driving in a career-high 38 this season.