April 6, 2013
Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Melissa Robinson put forth a strong pitching performance and Brittany Paul went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Leopards who claimed a 2-1 victory in eight innings on Saturday afternoon in a split of a doubleheader with Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks secured a 6-1 decision in the opener.
Robinson scattered six hits in the extra-inning victory, allowing one unearned run while striking out six and walking one.
The Leopards (8-19, 2-4) led in the early innings, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Lead-off hitter Kristen Berger walked to start the third frame and Paul sacrificed her to second. Jordan Parsons came through with the RBI-double. Robinson followed with a potential run-scoring single, but Parsons was cut down at home to end the inning.
Lehigh (16-13-1, 4-2) tied the game in the sixth without ever recording a hit as the Leopards committed two errors.
The game remained tied until the eighth. Allison Brown's single started things and Meaghan Asselta immediately pinch ran with Amy Gebhardt. Robinson's sac moved Gebhardt into scoring position, but Victoria Vergona flew out for the second out of the inning. Allison Thomas came through with the go-ahead double and the 2-1 lead.
Lehigh made a serious threat in the bottom of the eighth, starting the inning with a pair of singles. The Mountain Hawks had runners on second and third with one out, but Robinson (6-11) was able to draw a pop up for the second out and then retired Emma Capetz for the final out of the game on a 1-3 groundout.
Emily Bausher (6-5) took the loss after giving up two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.
Lehigh controlled the first game, scoring three runs in the third off Lafayette starter Bryn Gornick before pulling away to a 6-1 final.
MacKenzie Velasquez (single) and Rosie Roessel (walk) each drove in a run and another scored on an error in the home half of the third.
The Leopards got one run back in the top of the fourth on Vergona's single up the middle. Paul, who reached on an infield single, scored on the play to cut the deficit to 3-1.
In the bottom of the inning, Velasquez extended the lead with a two-out double as Lehigh used its 12 hits in the game to produce the 6-1 final.
Gornick (2-5) was handed the loss, allowing six runs (5 earned) with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. For Lehigh, Rebecca Bliss (9-6) gave up one run on five hits with three strikeouts.
The two teams will get back at it with a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch is slated for noon at Kaufman Field.
