Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Colgate opened conference play on Saturday when it traveled to Lehigh for a doubleheader with the Mountain Hawks. The Raiders dropped both games but saw Marisa Dowling hit her second season home run after going 3-for-5 on the day.
 
The Stratford, Conn., native continued her impressive sophomore campaign adding another three hits to her resume, having now registered a hit in 16 of the Raiders 19 games this season. Dowling also notched three RBIs throughout the two games to shift her season total to a team-high 15.
 
"I was disappointed with the way we came out to play today in game one," Colgate head coach Melissa Finley said. "We played tight and made way too many mental errors and Lehigh is a good enough team that they will capitalize on those.
 
"I was happier with our mind set and attitude in the second game. We were able to fight back from an early deficit and offensively had a good game. However, we let ourselves down defensively and beat ourselves once again. We learned a lot today and I am expecting a different team to show up ready to play tomorrow."
 
Colgate (5-13, 0-2 PL) received a top performance from rookie Katie Bushee as well, who finished the night going 2-for-6 with two runs and an RBI. Both Tera Vaughn, Alex Wilson, and Gillian Murray also posted hits in the doubleheader.
 
Lehigh (10-10, 2-0) was led by MacKenzie Velasquez and Morgan Decker, who went 6-for-9 and 5-for-5, respectively, throughout the two games. Velasquez added five runs and three RBIs, while Decker notched four runs and seven RBIs.
 
In game two, Bushee got the Raiders off to a good start singling to center field in the top of the first. After she had stolen second, a Mariel Schlaefer sacrifice bunt shifted her 60 feet to third base. Dowling then singled on the ensuing play to score the freshman for the early 1-0 Raider edge.
 
The Mountain Hawks didn't waste a lot of time trailing as they answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the 4-1 advantage.
 
Colgate would cut Lehigh's lead in half with another run in the top of the second after singles from Vaughn and Wilson. Vaughn found the gap with one out in the inning and then advanced two bases thanks to a wild pitch and passed ball. Wilson was able to bring her home on the next at bat when she singled up the middle.
 
The Raiders then rallied in the top of the fifth to knot the score at 4-all. Wilson kicked off the top of the fifth doubling to left field to get a runner in scoring position. Kate Zucker bunted to move Wilson to third base before Bushee doubled, scoring her fellow classmate. A Dowling single to center field then tied the game after Bushee scored.
 
Colgate was knocking on the door again in the sixth after it earned a leadoff walk. The Raiders advanced their runner to second but couldn't convert on the opportunity as the Mountain Hawks escaped the inning not conceding the go-ahead run.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Lehigh reached on an error to get a runner on board. A sacrifice bunt and ground out shifted the baserunner to third before a single scored the eventual game-winner.
 
Megan Carnase went six innings in the circle for the Raiders allowing seven hits and five runs.
 
In the opening game Colgate saw Dowling homer to left field in the first to give the Raiders the early 1-0 edge.
 
The Mountain Hawks answered in the bottom half of the inning with three runs and held strong throughout the remainder of the game to ultimately secure the win.
 
These two teams are back in action Sunday when they faceoff at noon for the final game of this three-game series.