EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette notched its second conference win of the season in Saturday's second game, securing an 11-3 victory over Bucknell after dropping the opener 4-3.
Regan Dillon,
Katie Harrington and
Dani Rosner plated three runs apiece to guide the Leopard offense on a sunny, windy day at Metzgar Fields.
Saturday's second game was all Maroon and White. The Leopards got things going quickly, plating five runs over the first three innings to stake starter
Marisa Powell to a definitive lead.
Back-to-back triples by Dillon (3-for-4) and
Ava Butler put two runs on the board in the first inning. Rosner singled home another run in the second in a game in which Lafayette scored in every inning. Harrington (double) and
Maggie Klug (sac fly) accounted for a pair of runs in the third inning as Lafayette led 5-0.
The hosts added three more in the bottom of the fourth. Harrington's two-run double was the big hit of the inning to stretch the margin to 8-0.
In the top of the fifth, Bucknell staved off the mercy-rule finale, scoring three runs on three hits. The inning ended in dramatic fashion as Lafayette turned a doubleplay. Klug cut down a runner attempting to steal second and
Caroline Hall returned the favor at home with a strike back to Klug to eliminate a runner trying to steal home. The 2-6-2 double play ended the inning.
The Leopards put things away with a run in the fifth (Rosner infield single) and two more in the sixth. Klug's sac fly made the score 10-3 in the sixth inning before a Bucknell outfielder dropped a fly ball to end the game.
Marisa Powell collected the circle victory, tossing four innings while allowing three runs on three hits.
Jordan Goedel threw the final 2.0 innings and held the Bison scoreless. Sarah Zimmerman allowed eight runs on eight hits in the loss.
In game one, all of the offense came in the fifth inning with the Bison getting the better of the frame. Bucknell sent nine batters to the plate and used five hits to score four runs. Brooke Popella drove in two runs to push Leopard starter
Parker Rowden out of the game.
Lafayette answered with two runs in the home half of the fifth.
Olivia Catalina's two-out double sparked the rally. Hall and Rosner both singled in runs to trim the deficit to 4-2.
When the game went to the seventh, the Leopards rallied. Dillon ripped her first home run of the season to pull within 4-3 against reliever Nina Barrouk. The Leopards put Catalina on first via a walk, but Barrouk ended the rally with two flyouts and a groundout to earn the save.
Avery Powers pitched six innings, allowing two runs on four hits for the victory. Rowden gave up four runs on six hits with four strikeouts in the loss.
Sophia Alvarez-Backus was strong in relief, holding the Bison to just one hit over the final 2.1 innings.
The two teams will be back at it on Sunday to close out the series, with the first pitch slated for 12:05 p.m.
