April 14, 2017 Box Score
HAMILTON, N.Y. -- The Lafayette offense erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning on its way to an 8-0 win over Colgate in Patriot League softball action on Friday afternoon.
The Leopards and Raiders were scoreless through two innings before Lafayette pushed across the first run of the game. Alexis Randall left off the top of the third with a single to left field. A Samantha Sweigart walk and a Mallory Kane bunt single loaded the bases. It was Kane's first career hit and game played, as she has battled injury in her rookie season.
With one out, Kristyn Marinelli, smacked a single to center field to score Randall and hand the Leopards a 1-0 lead.
Lafayette starter Stephanie Thomas faced significant resistance in the bottom of the third inning as Meghan Romero and Katie Bushee each singled to start the inning. A sacrifice moved them 60 feet closer, but Thomas struck out one Colgate batter enticed a groundout for the final out of the inning.
Leading 1-0, Lafayette blew open the game in the fifth inning. Marinelli drew a bases-loaded walk, prompting a pitching change by Colgate that replaced Kyle Griswold with Brittany Bendel. Miranda Skurla's infield single moved the Leopards' advantage to 3-0.
The next batter, Thomas, singled to right field to plate two runs and then Jenna Orlando and Randall each knocked in another on sac flies. Sweigart came up for the second time in the inning and delivered an RBI-single to score Brooke Wensel.
The Leopards closed out the shortened game when Thomas retired the Raiders on three straight fly balls. It was the first mercy-rule win for the Leopards since April 6, 2011, a 15-1 win in five innings at Wagner.
It was Thomas' third victory of the season and first shutout. She allowed four hits, struck out one and did not walk a batter.
Griswold (3-7) was the losing pitcher, surrendering five runs on six hits with four walks.
Lafayette (5-18, 2-8) and Colgate (8-21, 0-7) will finish the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday. The opening pitch has been moved up to 10 a.m. to avoid inclement weather in the forecast.
