HAMILTON, N.Y. (4/12/09) – Colgate extended its winning streak to a school record tying eight straight games with a doubleheader sweep over Bucknell Sunday afternoon at the Eaton Street Field.  The Raiders completed their four-game sweep over the Bison with a 9-4 win in the opener, before run-ruling the visitors in the nightcap 11-3 in five innings.

Colgate is 19-10 overall and holds down second place in the Patriot League standings with a 9-3 mark, while Bucknell is 13-25 overall and 4-8 in the league.

In the opener, Bucknell jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Jessie Snyder's home run, but Colgate quickly took the lead with five runs in the bottom of the frame.

The Raiders tallied five runs on only two hits, as Bucknell starter Jane Messersmith walked three and hit two batters before the first out was made.  Nicole Siedhof (Canton, PA) had a RBI sacrifice fly, while Stephanie Hartquist (Homer, NY) doubled for a RBI, and Meg Mylan (Upper Montclair, NJ) singled through the left side for the final run.

Bucknell added single runs in the third and four innings to jump back into the game, before Colgate exploded for three more runs in the fifth inning.  Pinch hitter Erin Gomez (Lawrenceville, NJ) did the damage when she sent a two-out, 3-2 pitch over the left field fence with a three-run homer.

After Bucknell scored once in the sixth inning, the Raiders closed out the scoring in the sixth on Ashley Rowe's (Tampa, FL) sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Tiana Tyeskey (Granite Bay, CA).

Jesse McCarrick (9-2) (Oak Hill, VA) was the winning pitcher for the Raiders, allowing six hits, striking out seven and walking none.

In the nightcap, Bucknell scored three times in the first inning on Alison Ford's three-run homer.  Colgate got two back in the bottom of the frame for a pair of unearned runs.

The Raiders tied the game in the second inning on a RBI single by Jennifer Ortega (Aberdeen, NJ), before taking the lead 8-3 with five runs in the third inning.

Hartquist and Melissa Babb-Renta (Glenview, IL) had RBI singles, and Ortega hit a three-run homer over the right field fence.  The Raiders scored out the scoring with three runs in the fifth inning.  Tyeskey walked with the bases loaded for a RBI, and Rowe had a two-run single to end the game.

Ortega was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI, while Calla Yee (Salinas, CA) had a pair of hits for the Raiders.  Lacy Ver Steeg (4-4) (Elk Grove, CA) was the winning pitcher, allowing four hits, three unearned runs, striking out two and walking none.

The Raiders will be back in action on Wednesday with a non-conference doubleheader at home against Siena.

(Game #1 Boxscore)

(Game #2 Boxscore)