Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 2 | Photo Gallery

EASTON, Pa. -- Lafayette banged out 29 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Rider on a sun-swept Sunday afternoon at Metzgar Fields.

In game one, Lafayette scored eight runs over the fifth and sixth to win 10-5. In the second game, Stephanie Thomas (4-for-4) singled home Brooke Wensel for the game-winning run in an 8-7 final. Lindsey Cherry (3-3) collected the circle wins in relief in both contests.

GAME 1
The hosts led 2-1 at the end of four innings after Maddie Wensel doubled in Miranda Skrula (single) and Stephanie Thomas (double) in the bottom of the fourth.

Entering the fifth, Leopard starter Kristyn Marinelli had allowed just one run in the first inning on a first-and-third double steal. The Broncs' offense used back-to-back doubles by Dana Sensi and Kim Valdes to take a 3-2 advantage. The next batter, Emily Cottrell homered and Rider led 5-2.

The Leopards took the lead for good in the fifth, answering with four runs of their own. Bryn Gornick had the big hit of the inning, connecting for a two-run single. Thomas and Maddie Wensel also collected RBI's.

Leading 6-5, Lafayette put away the game with a four-run sixth inning. Brooke Wensel (3-for-4), Allison Brown and Thomas each doubled in runs and Gornick singled in another to lead 10-5.

Cherry, who came on in relief of Marinelli (4.2 IP, 5R, 1ER, 3K) in the fifth, closed out the victory in the seventh, striking out Valdes for the final out of the game. Cherry gave up one hit in 2.1 innings and did not allow a run. Megan Ailand (1-10) was the loser, allowing nine earned runs on 13 hits.

GAME 2
The scoring in the second game didn't pick up until the fourth inning as the teams entered tied at 1-1. Lafayette pounded out five runs on five hits in the fourth inning. Sweigart cleared the bases with a triple. Jenna Orlando (single), Brown (sac fly) and Thomas (single) all plated runs as Lafayette led 6-1.

The fifth was equally productive for the Broncs. Josettee Spencer hit a bases-loaded double that scored three runs and prompted Lafayette coach Jexx Varner to call on Cherry to replace Stacy Gordon (4IP, 7H, 5ER, 6K). Cherry gave up a two-run home run to Dana Sensi that knotted the game at 6-6.

Brooke Wensel's fifth hit of the afternoon, a single back through the box, led off the sixth. She swiped second and advanced to third on Brown's infield single. Thomas came through with a single to left for the go-ahead run. The Leopards added a crucial insurance run when Brown scored on a wild pitch on a strikeout. A lineout doubleplay ended the inning with an 8-6 lead.

Rider (5-28) added a run via a sac fly in the seventh, but the game ended with the tying run at third base. Cherry (3IP, 4H, 2ER, 3K) finished things when she got a ground ball to Brooke Wensel that Wensel gunned across the diamond for the final out.

Lafayette (12-24) gets back to Patriot League action on the weekend, traveling to Boston U. for a three-game series.

NOTES: Sweigart, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Week, had her nine-game hitting streak stopped in the first game on Sunday. She is currently second on the team with a .333 batting average.

Brooke Wensel, the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week, had five hits to run her batting average to .348. The duo shares the team lead for stolen bases (7).