April 30, 2009
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette softball team couldn't have ended their regular season much better than they did during their sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson in Thursday's doubleheader. The Leopards rallied for a 7-5 win in the first game before running away with a 12-0 mercy rule decision.
In game one, junior shortstop Christina Giambrone belted a two-run homer over the centerfield wall with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to become Lafayette's career homerun leader, breaking the record of 26 set by Kristen Ruckno '08. The homer was her 14th of the season, which ties for second in Patriot League record books.
In game two, the Leopards set season game highs for runs scored (12), RBI (12) and hits (17) while Ali Henry kept the Knights quiet, allowing a season-low two hits. Between the two outings, second baseman Stacey Kushner hit a perfect 7-for-7 with three runs and five RBI and first baseman Kerry Griffin went 7-for-8 with seven RBI.
The Leopards started off a bit shaky in the first game as Kasey Karr loaded the bases and hit Kristen Coughlan with a pitch to send in a run. But the Leopards got out of the jam and matched the run in the bottom of the first when Kristen Garganio reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded for an RBI.
FDU regained the lead in the top of the second with two runs thanks in part to two early fielding errors by Giambrone. In the bottom of the third, Giambrone singled in the lead off spot and Kushner doubled to center field to advance her to third. Griffin singled to right center and brought in the run.
The Knights increased their lead to 5-2 in the top of the fourth after Justina Augustine homered and Alex Schubert scored off a single by Kirsten Shreve.
Lafayette came to life in the bottom of the fourth when Karr singled and Giambrone homered. Kushner kept up the momentum with a single and Griffin doubled to centerfield to send in the tying run. The Leopards added a run in both the sixth and seventh innings to secure the win.
In game two, the Leopards wasted no time lighting up the scoreboard, taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning. After they loaded the bases, Kushner tripled and Griffin found a gap to send in her teammate.
Lafayette kept piling on hits and runs throughout the game to cruise to victory and close out the regular season with a 15-27 record.
The Leopards face No. 1 seed and archrival Lehigh at the Patriot League Tournament on Thursday at 2 p.m. in Bethlehem, Pa.
