Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – Colgate got back into the win column with a huge 7-6 victory over nearby rival Cornell in 10 innings here Tuesday afternoon.
 
In a very back and forth game, both teams took their turns holding the lead. Colgate opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run by senior Tera Vaughn, but Cornell answered with a run in the bottom half to knot the score. The Big Red took the go-ahead run in the fourth before Colgate pulled even in the sixth with a homer by Mariel Schlaefer.
 
Both teams recorded a run in the eighth and ninth innings to push the game into double-figure frames. The Raiders registered three big runs in the top of the 10th thanks to a single by Alex Wilson and a two-run blast by Kate Zucker, giving them the 7-4 lead. Cornell would not go away as the Big Red notched two runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a one-run game. Strong defense by Colgate, however, ended any final Big Red attempts at tying the game.
 
"I was really happy to see us battle and fight for a win today," Colgate head coach Melissa Finley said. "We made it challenging for ourselves with some defensive miscues but at the end of the day our bats came through to give us some support.
 
"Brigit (Ieuter) threw a fantastic game. It was nice to see us swinging hard and hitting some home runs today as well. We also did a good job base running and getting some bunts down when we needed to in order to produce runs in the extra innings. Every single person contributed in a positive way today and it was refreshing to see."
 
Colgate (6-18) received a game-high performance from Schlaefer, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Katie Bushee added two hits, while Vaughn and Zucker contributed home runs on the day.
 Brigit Ieuter registered her fourth win of the season after pitching a complete game, allowing six runs with only two being earned.
 
Cornell (12-16) saw Jessica Bigbie go 4-for-4 on the day. Sophie Giaquinto added three hits on six at bats, with Jenny Edwards and Christina Villalon recorded two hits on six plate appearances as well.
 
Alyson Onyon dropped to 5-6 on the season in the circle for the Big Red after giving up seven hits and seven runs, with five of them being earned.
 
After a scoreless opening inning, Vaughn led off the top of the second with a solo home run to left center. The hit was her first homer of the season and ties her for 10th all-time in career RBIs with 76.
 
The Big Red pulled even at 1-all in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Cornell found itself with bases loaded in the third but Ieuter was able to pitch her way out of the jam to keep the game tied at 1-1.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Big Red took the one-run edge after Meg Parker touched home.
 
Then with two outs in the top of the sixth, Schlaefer knocked her second home run of the year hitting with a blast over the center field fence to tie the score at 2-all.
 
Neither team tallied the game-winning run in the seventh, forcing the contest into extra innings.
 
Under international softball rules, teams are awarded a runner on second base to start each extra inning.
 
Both teams notched a run in the eighth and ninth, making for an exciting final inning.
 
In the top of the 10th, Tara Grennan, who started the inning on second, advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wilson followed that up with a single to reel in Grennan for the go-ahead run. On the ensuing play, Zucker blasted one over the center field fence to score two more Raider runs. Zucker's timely hit was just the second of her career and her first collegiate home run.
 
Despite two runs from the Big Red in the bottom half, Colgate was able to stay strong defensively to hold on for the extra innings victory.

Colgate's solid play in the field forced Cornell to strand 18 base runners throughout the game.
 
The Raiders are back in action Wednesday against Siena for a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Wednesday's game will also be Colgate's home opener.