Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WASHINGTON – Mariel Schlaefer and Katie Bushee both registered their first home runs of the season for Colgate in a 3-1 victory over George Washington on Thursday afternoon. The Raiders dropped game two, however, 9-1 in five innings, to split the doubleheader.
 
Schlaefer led the Raiders going 1-for-3 with a run, RBI and four walks during her two games of action. Bushee was a close second with two hits, a run, a RBI, and a walk during her six at bats. Bushee's homer in the opening game was also the first of her career.
 
"Brigit (Ieuter) threw a great game and it was nice to see us produce offensively," Colgate head coach Melissa Finley said. "It was an all around solid game on both sides of the ball.
 
"We got off to another strong start in the second game but didn't capitalize on early opportunities. That came back to bite us when we collectively let the game get out of hand in the fifth. I was disappointed we couldn't stop the bleeding but hopefully this will fuel us moving on. We are looking forward to a productive practice tomorrow to refocus."
 
Colgate now shifts to five and 12 on the season as it heads into its first conference game this weekend. The Raiders travel to Bethlehem, Pa., to take on the Patriot League Preseason Poll top pick Lehigh Mountain Hawks for three games, beginning at noon on Saturday.
 
Throughout Thursday's doubleheader, the Raiders also saw Haley Fleming, Marisa Dowling and Tara Grennan record two hits with each of them earning a walk as well. Fleming and Dowling also posted an RBI and a run, respectively, during their time at the plate.
 
George Washington (11-16-1) received a top performance from Marissa Mangini, who went 5-of-6 with two runs and two RBIs. Victoria Valos added three hits and two RBIs during her seven at bats, while Carlee Gray notched three hits and a run during her two games.
 
After a scoreless first inning in the opening game, Schlaefer put the Raiders' ahead 1-0 with a two-out solo shot over the left center fence.
 
The Colonials answered with a home run of their own in the bottom of the third to knot the score at 1-all, but another solid hit over the fence for Colgate gave the Raiders back their edge, at 2-1.
 
Colgate tacked on an insurance marker in the top of the seventh thanks to a double by Jennifer Martin. With one out in the inning, Dowling singled to left center, getting a runner on base. Martin followed that up doubling to center field to score Dowling from first, which ultimately secured the win.
 
Sophomore Brigit Ieuter had another strong performance in the circle, allowing seven hits and just one run during her seven complete innings of work.
 
In game two, the Raiders again jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Kate Zucker touched home. The inning started after Zucker earned a one-out walk. Two more consecutive walks loaded the bases for the Raiders. The Colonials were able to register one more out before Fleming's single through the left side scored Zucker from third.
 
George Washington took the lead in the bottom of the fourth after it started the inning with a single. A sacrifice bunt moved the baserunner 60 feet, before a single by Gray on the ensuing play scored the runner. Gray advanced to second on the play thanks to a Colgate error. Monica Macchiarulo, who had come in to pinch run for Gray, shifted to third on a passed ball during the next at bat to get a runner in scoring position. Morgan Matetic then singled to score Macchiarulo for the 2-1 Colonial lead.
 
Colgate tried to answer in the top of the fifth by earning a walk to start the inning but was unable to bring the runner home.
 
The Colonials registered a huge bottom half of the inning, scoring seven runs to create too big of a margin between the teams to take the win.
 
Megan Carnase earned the loss after pitching 4.1 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs. Rookie Gillian Murray came in for relief going 0.1 innings, giving up one hit and six runs.
 
The Raiders are next in action Saturday for a doubleheader at Lehigh, beginning at noon.