EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette softball took time out to honor seniors
Hannah Cook,
Paige Grover and
Kaitlyn Rarick on Saturday prior to the Patriot League doubleheader vs. Lehigh.
The Mountain Hawks took both games at a breezy Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex, winning 10-0 and 6-2.
In game one, Lehigh broke open a two-run game with eight runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings.
Lehigh's Emily Cimino connected for a solo home run in the first and Lehigh added a run on a squeeze bunt in the fourth inning.
Lehigh lefty starter Gabriella Nori held the Lafayette offense in check, striking out nine with one walk. Nori limited Lafayette to one hit for the game, a
Morgan Olynyk single in the second inning.
Game two was a close game throughout.
Lafayette starter
Kailee Sawai gave up a two-run home run to Jolie Chesson in the top of the first, but the Leopards cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third inning.
Paige Sandidge reached on a lead-off single and later scored when
Natasha Miner ripped a two-out double down the left field line.
Miner came through again in the fifth to allow the Leopards to tie the game.
Kristen Brown drew a lead-off walk and Leopard coach
Caitlyn de la Haba pinch ran for her with
Erica Brasher.
Jasmine Nguyen bunted Brasher into scoring position and Miner did the rest of the work, going the opposite way for an RBI-single and a tie game, 2-2.
The visitors re-took the lead in the sixth. With a runner aboard, Chesson hit her second two-run home run of the game to lead 4-2.
The Leopards threatened in the bottom of the inning. Olynyk managed her third hit of the game and Roman followed with a single. After a sac bunt by Sandidge, Lafayette had two runners in scoring position, prompting Lehigh to bring in game one starter Nori from the bullpen. She struck out Brown to close the inning.
Lehigh tacked on two runs on four singles in the seventh to run the final to 6-2.
Lafayette closes out the 2021 season on Sunday in Bethlehem with a doubleheader beginning at 10:30 a.m.
(to try and beat the rain).
