April 26, 2009
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
HAMILTON, N.Y. - The Lafayette softball team earned a berth to the Patriot League Tournament on Sunday after sweeping its doubleheader against Colgate in extra innings. The Leopards won 5-3 in the first game and rallied late for a 7-6 victory in the second to win three of the four-game weekend series.
Junior Christina Giambrone went 6-for-7 with four runs and four RBI between the two games. Even more impressive, she hit three homeruns in the second game during her 3-for-4 outing, bringing her season total to 11 - breaking the program's single season record held by Kristen Ruckno '08 (10, 2006).
Lafayette (12-26, 8-12) earned the final seed over Army, both of which have an 8-12 Patriot League record, by winning the tiebreaker. Since the teams went 2-2 against each other and had identical records against top-seeded Lehigh, their records against Colgate were used to break the tie. Lafayette owned a better mark against the Raiders, giving the Leopards the final tournament berth.
In the first eight-inning contest, Lafayette started things off early. Kasey Karr singled and advanced to second when Giambrone singled down the right field line. Kristin Garganio singled and advanced to second on a fielding error by the catcher, which allowed Karr to score.
In the bottom of the fourth, Amanda Eccleston reached on an error and eventually scored the Raiders' first run on a throwing error by Cody Kugler. Kimberley Spinks scored on a passed ball before Meg Mylan fouled out to close the inning with one runner left on base.
Lafayette wasted no time tying it up in the top of the fifth. Carly Feiro singled to second base and fellow freshman Gwen Turner singled to right field, advancing Feiro to third. Feiro scored on a throwing error by the catcher.
The Leopards lit it up in the top of the eighth with three runs off five hits. Giambrone, Garganio and Kerry Griffin all singled to load the bases and Dorn drove in a run with a single down the left field line. Feiro brought in two runs in the next at bat when she singled down the right field line.
Ali Henry struck out Erin Gomez and though Jennifer Ortega homered, the Leopards were not shaken. Tiana Tyeskey grounded out to the pitcher and Ashley Rowe popped up to the second baseman to end the game.
In the second eight-inning contest, Lafayette rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the top of the fourth and ran away to a 7-6 win.
Giambrone belted her first of three homers in the leadoff spot to put the Leopards on the scoreboard. Two innings later, she homered again in the leadoff spot to inch Lafayette closer, 4-2. The Leopards continued the attack but they left three on base at the end of the sixth.
The Raiders boosted their advantage to 6-2 when Mylan homered over the centerfield wall and Tyeskey had a sacrifice fly to drive in a run, but Lafayette stayed resolute.
In the top of the seventh, Turner singled in the leadoff spot. Giambrone stepped up once again and homered her 11th of the season.
Now facing a 6-4 deficit, the Leopards kept things rolling when Stacey Kushner doubled down the left field line. Garganio reached on a fielder's choice as Kushner was tagged out at third, but Griffin joined the homerun brigade with her first of the season to knot the game.
In the top of the eighth, Lafayette capitalized off Colgate's pitching. Emma Kline walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She made it to third when Karr grounded out to second base and scored the winning run on a wild pitch.
Tournament play for the double-elimination competition begins Thursday, May 7 at Kaufman Field in Bethlehem, Pa., for the eighth straight year. Top-seeded Lehigh takes on No. 4 Lafayette at 2 p.m. The other first round game will pit No. 2 Colgate against No. 3 Bucknell. The champion will be decided on May 9.
