March 10, 2012
Detroit Box Score
FAMU Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Lafayette softball opened the 2012 season on Saturday with two of its 12 games scheduled for the Rebel Spring Games on the Leopards' Spring Break trip.
In the season opener vs. Detroit, the Titans used a five-run second inning to hang on for a 6-2 victory. In the second game of the twinbill, it took extra innings before Florida A&M pushed across a run in the eighth to win 5-4.
Against Detroit, just one of the six runs Lafayette starter Melissa Robinson gave up was earned. In the decisive second inning, Detroit banged out five runs on five singles and benefited from one Lafayette error. Alyssa Schaub drove in a pair of runs for Detroit.
The Leopards put up a run in each of the fourth and sixth innings. Amy Gebhardt used a one-out single to score Lauren Murphy in the fourth. The Leopards stranded two runners in the inning. In the sixth, Murphy doubled home pinch runner Kelly Lallis.
Robinson took the loss, allowing eight hits in six innings while striking out two and walking one. Julia Maksym gave up two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and a pair of walks for the victory.
Against Florida A&M, Lafayette jumped out to a solid offensive start, plating three runs in the bottom of the first. Murphy singled home a pair of runs and later scored on a wild pitch as the Leopards led 3-1.
FAMU took the lead with a run in the second and two more in the top of the third. The third started out with a triple and a double before starter Emily Noel was lifted for Alex Campanaro. Alyssa Weaver put the Rattlers ahead 4-3 with a run-scoring single.
Lafayette tied the game in the fifth as Stacey Dorn drove in Gwen Turner from second. Dorn finished the game 4-for-4.
The game was tied through seven and the contest used the international tie-breaking rule in the eighth, placing a runner on second base to start the inning. Pinch hitter Corinne Gordon doubled home the go-ahead run.
In the bottom of the frame, the Leopards advanced Murphy from second to third with one out, but the scoring chance ended with a groundout and a strikeout in the 5-4 final.
Campanaro took the loss in her first collegiate decision. She fanned three and allowed one unearned run on six hits in six innings of work. Whitney Robinson was the circle winner, giving up one hit in three innings with two strikeouts.
Lafayette (0-2) returns to action on Sunday with games scheduled vs. Bryant and Utah Valley.
