April 18, 2011
Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette softball used a sparkling pitching performance and timely hitting to capture a 2-0 win over Army in the second game of a Patriot League doubleheader on Monday afternoon. Melissa Robinson scattered three hits and struck out two in the nightcap, helping Lafayette secure their first Patriot League win and a matinee split after losing the opener 14-4.
In the second game, the Leopards drew first blood in the top of the third inning. With the bases full of runners, freshman Amy Gebhardt battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a bases-loaded walk and give the Leopards a 1-0 lead.
Lafayette padded its lead with a run in the fourth. After a lead-off single by Gwen Turner, Army coach Michele DePolo pulled starter Shawna Bleyl in favor of Haley Pypes. Turner immediately took advantage of two wild pitches uncorked by Pypes and moved to third. Stacey Kushner got the job done, flying out to left to score Turner. The Leopards threatened for more, putting runners on first and second with one out. Stacey Dorn ripped a ball down the third base line, but Clara Navarro snared it and turned a 5-3 doubleplay to end the inning.
Robinson (2-11) was rolling in the middle innings, retiring Army in order in the third and fourth. Army sent five batters to the plate in the fifth and four in the sixth, but Robinson and the defense held them scoreless. In the bottom of the seventh, Robinson sent down Army in order to preserve the shutout, the Leopards' first of the season.
Like their counterparts, Lafayette had just three hits in the game (two by Turner), but instead took advantage of nine walks issued by the Army pitching staff. Bleyl issued eight free passes, allowing all three hits. Pypes threw four innings of hitless softball.
There wasn't nearly as much suspense in Monday's opener, as Army batted around the order in the bottom of the first to score six runs. Lafayette starter Emily Noel (0-5) walked four and hit one batter. Marina Northup (sac fly) and Amanda Nguyen (single) each drove in run by putting the bat on a ball. Reanna Johnson's two-out single against Lafayette reliever Lauren Hasson put Army up 6-0. Johnson was thrown out at third on a double steal to end the inning.
Lafayette shaved two runs off the early Army advantage. Mary Episcopo doubled down the leftfield line just out of the reach of the Army shortstop to score both runs. Jordan Parsons drew a walk to load the bases. Cleanup batter Kushner came to the plate, but the inning ended when strike three was called on an outside pitch.
The Black Knights (21-18, 5-7) put away the game in the third inning, again batting around the lineup to post an eight-spot on the scoreboard. Rachael Duval singled home two runs in the inning during which Army managed five hits and was aided by two errors.
The Leopards added two runs in the top of the fifth. With Kerry Griffin aboard, Hasson smacked a ball deep over the leftfield wall for her first collegiate home run that put the final at 14-4. Pypes (9-8) collected the win, giving up four runs with four strikeouts and seven walks.
Lafayette (3-32, 1-11) remains at home, hosting St. Peter's on Wednesday in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
