April 25, 2011
Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Behind a pair of stellar pitching performances from freshman Melissa Robinson, Lafayette took both games of a Monday softball doubleheader at Bucknell.
Robinson hurled a one hitter in the first game as Lafayette won 3-0. In the second game, Robinson scattered five hits in a 5-2 decision that was highlighted by Stacey Kushner's three-hit effort. Lafayette captured its first Patriot League series of 2011, taking three of four against the Bison.
In the first game, Lafayette scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the fifth. Kushner bunted home Gwen Turner who had reached on a lead-off single. Two more runs came plateward with two outs in the inning when the Bucknell shortstop made a throwing error and allowed Kushner and Mary Episcopo (2-for-4) to score.
That was more than enough offense for Robinson who faced 25 batters in the game, four more than the minimum. Robinson had three strikeouts, two of which ended innings, and walked five. She carried a no-hitter through 6.1 innings before Alison Ford broke it up with a single up the middle.
Her Bucknell counterpart, Bridget Gates (6-15), allowed one earned run on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
In the nightcap, a four-run sixth inning was highlighted by Lauren Murphy's first career triple that scored two runs and helped guide the Leopards to a 5-2 win.
In the third inning, Kushner's eighth double of the season put the Leopards ahead 1-0. Episcopo, who was the team's lead-off hitter for three of the four games in the series, scored.
Bucknell (12-32, 4-12) took the only lead of the day with two runs in the top of the sixth. Lauren Fry and Ford each singled home runners to lead 2-1.
The Bison's lead was short-lived as Lafayette cranked out four runs in the bottom of the inning. Carly Feiro's infield single scored Kushner (3-for-3), who had reached with her 34th career double. Murphy cleared the bases and pushed in two more runners with a triple. The Leopards extended the lead to 5-2 when Murphy scored on Episcopo's sac fly.
Robinson (6-12) was again solid on the mound, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks. Bucknell starter Alex MacLean (6-17) was touched up for five runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings.
The Leopards (7-34, 4-12), who have won four out of their last five, travel to Iona for a doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 3 p.m.
