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April 5, 2017
EASTON Pa. -- Lafayette rallied for three runs in the sixth to beat La Salle 3-2 in the second game of a Wednesday softball doubleheader at Metzgar Fields.
The nightcap was scoreless until the sixth inning as starters and Alexis Randall and Reilly Gearhart faced little offensive resistance. In the top of the sixth, Taylor Rohrbaugh singled in La Salle's first run of the game and her pinch runner later scored on a sac fly for a 2-0 lead. Stephanie Thomas relieved Randall for the last out of the inning.
The Leopards fought back in the bottom half. A Thomas double and Samantha Sweigart's infield single put runners on the corners with one out. Sweigart swiped second uncontested and the Leopards had two runners in scoring position. Jenna Orlando laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to plate Thomas and force a pitching change.
On the next play, Lafayette took the lead for good. With Orlando at second and Sweigart just 60 feet from home, Maddie Wensel (2-for-3) hit an infield single off the glove of the diving shortstop. The throw home was high and wide and allowed Orlando to score behind Sweigart for the 3-2 advantage.
La Salle (13-14) managed a lead-off hit off Thomas in the top of the seventh, but that was it for the offense. A sac bunt was the first out and then Thomas fanned the last two batters to secure the victory. Thomas (2-2) threw the final 1.1 innings and did not allow a run. Randall was solid in 5.2 innings of work, giving up two runs on seven hits in the no-decision. Gearhart took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in 5.1 innings while striking out seven.
In the first game of the day, La Salle got the best of a pitchers' duel as Stacy Gordon battled Marlo Roadcap. Roadcap struck out nine and scattered four hits while keeping the Leopards off the scoreboard.
The Explorers scored all the offense they needed in the top of the fourth inning. Emma Schweigert hit a two-out, two-run double to left centerfield but ended the rally when she strayed past second and was caught in a run down.
La Salle added another run in the sixth, again with two outs. With a runner at second, Gordon fielded a ball just in front of home plate and her throw to first was low. The runner was going with the pitch and scored on the error for the 3-0 lead.
Gordon pitched into the seventh inning and left with two runners aboard. Kristyn Marinelli came on in relief and the Leopards were able to keep deficit at three.
In the home half of the seventh, Orlando started things for the Leopards with a one-out double, but La Salle ended the game with a strikeout and a fly out.
Lafayette (4-13) returns to Patriot League play on Saturday and Sunday, hosting a three-game series vs. Army. First pitch for each day is slated for noon.
