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HAMILTON – Rookie Mariel Schlaefer hit her fifth home run of the season and first career grand slam to propel the Raiders to an 8-5 victory over Bucknell Sunday afternoon. Colgate also defeated the Bison 4-2 in the first game of the doubleheader.

“We had two great team wins today with a lot of people contributing at key moments,” head coach Melissa Finley said. “It was nice to see our offense support our pitchers today, and Mariel's grand slam was definitely a highlight on the day.

“Every game is competitive in this conference and I'm really happy with how this team bounced back after our loss in the first game of the four-game series.”

Colgate (10-18, 5-3 PL) saw Schlaefer tally five RBI throughout the two games. Natalie Siedhof went 3-for-6 with a run while Alana Dyson added three hits, two runs and one RBI.

Bucknell (9-24, 2-6 PL) was led by Erin Cox, who went 4-for-7 with two runs and two RBI. Mary Horton recorded three hits and two runs in her eight at bats to add to the Bison total. Colie Escobar had a big second game for Bucknell, going 2-for-2 with a homer and three RBI.

The Bison started off the second game taking the 1-0 lead off a single through the left side. Horton scored from third after she had doubled to kick off the game and then advanced following a sacrifice.

Bucknell added to its total in the top of the fourth with three runs. Cox led off the inning with a single to left center. She moved to second after an error. Young advanced her to third with a sacrifice before Escobar homered to right center. The next batter, Tara Robinson, followed that up by hitting a homer of her own to extend the Bison advantage to 4-0.

The Raiders did not give up, however, as they answered with seven big runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead at 7-4. Jennifer Martin earned a walk to start the inning. Siedhof advanced her to second by singling through the left side. Vaughn loaded the bases after she earned herself a walk. Kate Zucker then grounded out to second, scoring Martin for the Raiders first run.

Marisa Dowling then singled, which allowed Siedhof to reach home. Dyson reached first on an error, scoring another Colgate run to pull the Raiders to with one at 4-3. Fleming loaded the bases yet again after she singled to right field, but it was a Schlaefer bomb over the center field fence that brought all three runners home during the next at bat.

Bucknell scored one run back in top of the sixth when Escobar doubled to right center, scoring Cox, who has led off the inning with a single.

But the Raiders again answered in the bottom half of the inning with a run of their own to push the margin back up to three at 8-5. With one out, Dyson singled through the right side. Fleming then reached on a fielder's choice after Dyson was tagged out heading to second. The next batter, Schlaefer, reached on an error, advancing Fleming to second. Fleming then scored after Emmie Dolfi reached first on a fielder's choice.

Megan Carnase, who had come in to relieve senior Courtney O'Connell in the top of the fifth, pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning for her second save of the year. O'Connell went four innings, giving up seven hits and four runs. Carnase allowed two hits and one run in her three innings of work.

Amanda Fazio went 3.1 innings, giving up seven hits and seven runs. Cindy Cherness came in for relief in the fourth, allowing one hit and one run.

In the first game, Bucknell saw Cox single up the middle to score Horton and Greenhawk for the 2-0 lead after the first. Horton kicked off the inning by singling to third base. Greenhawk then reached on a bunt single, advancing Horton to second. One out later, Zahn loaded the bases with a single up the middle. Cox then brought two runners home with her hit.

Colgate cut the Bison advantage to 2-1 in the bottom of the second when Martin doubled to left center. Dolfi, who had doubled on the previous play, reached home.

During the Raiders next at bat in the bottom of the third, Dolfi smashed one over the center field fence for a 2-run homer. Fleming started the inning by singling to left field and was brought home following Dolfi's hit.

Bucknell did not go away however, as Cydnee Sanders singled and then stole second in the top of the fifth. Then with one out, junior Tera Vaughn robbed Cox of a two-run homer and the go-ahead run with an amazing catch over the center field fence. She jumped up, reaching her hand over the fence to snag the driven ball. The Raiders were able to get the last needed out before the Bison converted on the runner in scoring position.

The Raiders finished out their scoring in the bottom half of the inning when Dyson reached home on a Schlaefer ground out. Dyson led off the inning with a single up the middle and then advanced to third following an error. 

The Bison were unable to recover in the remaining innings and dropped three-of-four to the Raiders over the course of the weekend.

Winning pitcher Brigit Ieuter went all seven innings, giving up seven hits and only two runs. She was also able to strike out four batters during her time in the circle.

Nielson pitched six innings for the Bison, allowing eight hits and four runs.

Colgate improves to 5-3 in conference play and travels to Holy Cross next weekend for another two-day league doubleheader with the Crusaders. The first game is scheduled for Saturday at noon.

NOTES: The Raiders scored seven runs in the fourth inning of the second game to notch the most runs scored in an inning this season … Schlaefer now leads the team with five home runs and 19 RBI in her rookie campaign.