April 20, 2011
Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette belted out nine runs, including home runs by Stacey Kushner and Stacey Dorn, to secure the second game of a doubleheader with St. Peter's, 9-2. In the opener on Wednesday at Metzgar Fields, St. Peter's scored all of its runs in the second and third and held off a late Lafayette rally to win 6-5.
Lafayette scored four runs in the first three innings of the second game, the first supplied by Kushner's solo shot in the first inning. Amy Gebhardt did the work in the second, connecting for an RBI-single.
The Maroon and White extended the lead with two more runs in the third inning. Kushner struck again with a run-scoring double that plated Gwen Turner who had reached on a lead-off single. After a pitching change and a pop up, Carly Feiro stepped to the plate and ripped a single to center to score Kushner (3-for-4, 4 RBI). Lafayette left the bases loaded but took a 4-0 lead into the field.
Lafayette pushed its lead to 5-0 in the fifth when Dorn launched a ball to straightaway center over the 210 sign on the wall for her second home run of the season.
St. Peter's trimmed the margin to 5-2 in the sixth, scoring a pair of runs on a fielding error and a bunt single by Alexis Gallagher.
A four-run response by the Lafayette offense in the bottom half, put away the game. Kushner drove in two more with a looping single to right. Dorn and Kerry Griffin added run-scoring singles to run the final to 9-2.
Melissa Robinson (3-11) earned her third win of the season, throwing all seven while allowing one earned run on eight hits with three strikeouts. Erica Colon (3-11) was the loser, going 2.1 innings with three earned runs on five hits.
In the first game, Lafayette pushed a run across in the bottom of the first, but had the opportunity for a few more. Kristin Garganio singled home Mary Episcopo who had reached on a lead-off walk. The Leopards had the bases loaded with one out but stranded all three runners to end the inning.
St. Peter's used the long ball in the second to capture the lead. Vanessa Acosta battled through a 10-plus pitch at-bat before smacking a ball over the leftfield fence.
The Peahens (2-24), added four more in the top of the third inning. The first three batters of the innings bunted to third base and all reached to set up the heart of the order. Kristen Kaneyuki doubled home two runs and Monique Flores also doubled to score Kaneyuki as St. Peter's took a 6-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Lafayette plated three runs, scoring on RBI-singles by Dorn, Griffin and Turner. The rally ended on Turner's single when Griffin was cut down at home trying to score from second. Lafayette trailed 6-4.
When the game moved to the sixth, Lafayette inched closer, loading the bases with one out. Feiro dribbled a ball to the pitcher who forced out the runner at home. The Leopards garnered their only run of the frame when the catcher made an errant throw to first trying for a doubleplay and overthrew to right to allow pinch runner Gebhardt to score.
The Leopards went quietly in the seventh, retired in order on three groundouts.
Starter Ali Henry (1-7) gave up six earned on seven hits with four strikeouts in the loss. Shelby Beaver was the victor, allowing four earned on 12 hits over 5.1 innings. Colon collected the save, throwing 1.2 innings of hitless softball.
Lafayette (4-33) gets back to Patriot League play on Saturday, kicking off a four-game weekend series at Bucknell with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
