Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Photo Gallery

HAMILTON – Despite a late comeback by Canisius in the nightcap, the Colgate softball team secured a 5-4 victory over the Golden Griffins to conclude the regular season and split Wednesday's doubleheader. Canisius took Game 1 by a score of 3-1.

"It was good to get back on the winning side in our second game today," head coach Melissa Finley said. "We left a lot of people on base and could have done a better job executing, but we did do a good job of putting the ball on the ground and forcing them to make plays."

Colgate (16-30) was led by Alana Dyson, who went 3-for-6 with a run. Tera Vaughn added three hits, one run and three RBIs during her seven at bats, while Emmie Dolfi went 2-for-6 with one RBI. Junior Jennifer Martin tallied two hits and two runs on three at bats during her one game of work.

Canisius (22-23) saw Meghan Cuda go 4-for-6 with two runs and one RBI. Michelle DelPrince also had a good outing for the Golden Griffins, adding three hits, one run and one RBI during her four at bats. Sisters Valorie and Tori Nappo along with Alexis Roman all added two hits, with Valorie Nappo knocking in one RBI with Tori Nappo and Roman recording one run in the doubleheader.

After a scoreless first inning in the nightcap, Canisius earned the game's first two runs in the top of the second. Marissa Miller led off the inning by doubling to right center. She then advanced to third on an illegal pitch before Bethany DeMarco's hit brought her home for the one-run advantage. The next batter, Roman, singled to first base advancing pinch-runner Kalie Michalski to second. With one out, DelPrince singled to second base to load the bases. Cuda followed that up by singling to center field, bringing in Michalski from third. Colgate was able to get out of the jam by earning the final two outs of the inning by forcing the Golden Griffins to pop and ground out.

Down 2-0 in the bottom half of the inning, the Raiders rallied to take the lead at 3-2. Martin kicked things off by singling to second base. Ornousky advanced her to second following a sacrifice bunt before Chaulklin reached on an error by the pitcher. Martin, who had advanced to third on the play, ended up scoring due to a Canisius error, cutting the advancing to 2-1. Chaulklin advanced to third after Dyson sacrificed. The next batter, Vaughn, singled to the shortstop to score Chaulklin for the equalizer. Fleming followed that up by reaching on an error, which also allowed Vaughn to advance to second. During the next at bat, Dolfi singled to left field to reel in Vaughn for the go-ahead run.

Vaughn recorded a two-RBI double in the bottom of the third to create a three-run margin between the teams. Natalie Siedhof earned a walk to lead off the inning. Martin then singled to right center, advancing Siedhof to second. The next batter, Ornousky, reached on a fielder's choice as the Golden Griffins tagged Siedhof out at third. During the next at bat, Alyssa Chaulklin loaded the bases after Canisius failed to tag Martin out at third. With two outs, Vaughn doubled past third base scoring two Raider runs for the 5-2 advantage.

The Golden Griffins cut the lead to 5-3 in the top of the fourth following a Valorie Nappo single. With one out, DelPrince earned a walk to get a runner on base. Cuda advanced her to second on a ground out before Nappo's hit brought her home.

Canisius pulled to within one at 5-4 in the top of the sixth. Tori Nappo started the inning by singling up the middle. DelPrince grounded out, advancing Nappo to second. The next batter, Cuda, walked before Valorie Nappo reached on an error to load the bases. Kennery followed that up by reaching on a fielder's choice after the Raiders got the force out at home. Still, with the bases loaded, Medina earned a walk to bring home another run. Rookie Megan Carnase was able to get out of the situation by not conceding the tying run.

Carnase finished out the top of the seventh in a 1-2-3 fashion for her third win of the year. She allowed 10 hits and four runs during her seven complete innings. She also recorded four strikeouts in the game.

Losing pitcher Jen Consaul went six innings, giving up eight hits and five runs.

The Golden Griffins took the early 1-0 in the top of the first of the opening game. Cuda led off with a single through the left side. After she stole second, Valorie Nappo advanced her to third on a single to the pitcher. The Raiders were able to tally the first out of the inning when Robin Kennery grounded out, but not before Cuda touched home for the one-run advantage.

Colgate didn't waste anytime equalizing the score as Dowling brought home Dyson with a sacrifice fly. Dyson tripled down the left field to kick off the bottom half of the inning. With one out Mariel Schlaefer earned a walk and then advanced to second on the same play, putting two Raider runners in scoring position. Dolfi loaded the bases following another walk before Dowling recorded her 13th RBI of the season by flying out to left field to score Dyson.

In the top of the fifth, the Golden Griffins found themselves with bases loaded and two outs. Senior Courtney O'Connell forced Medina to pop out, however, for the final out of the inning to keep the go-ahead runs from scoring.

Following a Raiders pitching change in the top of the sixth when Brigit Ieuter came in for relief, Canisius retook the lead at 3-1. With one out, DeMarco earned a walk to get a runner on base. Roman then singled, advancing pinch-runner Michalski to second. Tori Nappo reached on a fielder's choice after Colgate tagged Michalski out at third, with Roman advancing to second on the play. DelPrince followed that up by doubling down the left field line, scoring Roman. Tori Nappo, who had advanced to third on the play, ended up scoring after the Raiders were charged with an error to extend the Canisius lead to 3-1. 

Colgate was unable to recover and fell to the Golden Griffins in the opening game.

Jenn Solis pitched a complete game for Canisius, allowing four hits and one run.

O'Connell started the game for Colgate, going five innings and allowing six hits and one run. Ieuter was charged with the loss, giving up two runs on two hits during her two innings in the circle.

The Raiders next take the field May 9 when they head to Bethlehem, Pa., for a rematch with Lehigh in the Patriot League Tournament. It is a two-game elimination, with Army and Bucknell also competing for the title.