March 11, 2009
Game 1
Game 2
LAWERENCEVILLE, N.J. - Lafayette third baseman Kristin Garganio guaranteed the Leopards' first win of the season would be a memorable one.
Her three-run homer in the seventh inning of the first game in a double-header at Rider propelled the Leopards (1-5) to a 7-5 win on Wednesday. Lafayette fell in the second, 6-0, in a five-inning game called short due to darkness.
In the first game, Christina Giambrone drew a walk with two outs in the top of the first. She advanced to third after Stacey Kushner reached first base on a throwing error by second baseman Amanda Centeno. Lafayette took a 1-0 lead when Kasey Karr's single to shortstop sent Giambrone home.
Ali Henry walked Rider's first batter, Allyson Melia, and two wild pitches advanced her to third. Candice Harris's double down the left field line drove her home and the Broncs added another run before Lafayette finished the inning on a double play.
Rider increased its lead to 3-1 in the second inning when Melia reached first on a fielder's choice, driving home Kozlowski.
The Leopards started the fourth inning with consecutive doubles by Garganio and Kerry Griffin, as her RBI closed the gap, 4-3.
Karr singled in the fifth inning and Lafayette tied it up when Griffin reached on a fielding error to send her home. The Broncs were not quiet for long as they loaded the bases. Kristin Stefanowicz singled to send home Harris.
Henry struck out the next batter and Katy Mills flied out to left field, allowing the Leopards to escape the inning with a 5-4 deficit. Both teams went three-and-out in the sixth, but Lafayette gained some momentum in the seventh with two singles from Giambrone and Kushner.
Karr reached on a fielder's choice, but the Broncs tagged Giambrone out at third. Garganio was not deterred as she stepped up to the plate and belted a three-run homer -- the second of her career -- to right center, boosting the Leopards to victory.
In the second game, Brittany Eckett's two-run single helped Rider jump to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Meanwhile, the Leopards could not generate any offense against Rider's pitching.
Gwen Turner and Karr registered the Leopards' two hits before the game was called short after 4 ½ innings due to darkness, crediting the Broncs with a 6-0 win.
The Leopards will spend spring break in Osceola, Fla., when they kick off the Rebel Spring Games on Monday with games against St. Peter's at 11 a.m. and Akron at 3 p.m.
