Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. – Four seniors ended their careers on a high note after helping Colgate to a 6-4 victory over Holy Cross on Sunday afternoon. The win also aided the Raiders in taking two of the three games with the Crusaders, after the two teams splitt in Saturday's doubleheader. 
 
Colgate ended the season with an overall record of 13-30 with a 5-13 mark in conference play. The Raiders also finished sixth in the league.
 
"It was a great team effort today and I was happy to see us end the season on a high note," Colgate head coach Melissa Finley said.
 
The Raiders took the early 1-0 lead thanks to a Mariel Schlaefer home run in the top of the first. Unfortunately, the Crusaders answered in the bottom half to grab the edge at 3-1. Colgate would not go away, however, as it registered five runs over the course of the next four innings to take the advantage, at 6-3. Holy Cross would notch one run back in the bottom of the fifth, but strong defense and pitching in the final two innings from the Raiders secured them the win.
 
Colgate was led by Schlaefer, who posted two hits, two runs, two RBIs, and a walk in her three plate appearances. Rookie Alex Wilson also went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs, while Haley Fleming, Gillian Murray, and Jennifer Martin all recorded hits in the game as well.
 
"Mariel (Schlaefer) and Alex (Wilson) had a great day for us at the plate. Alex has had a tough season battling a hip injury but has always found a way to make things happen. She would have also had a home run on the day if the wind wasn't blowing in so strongly.
 
"Overall we did a great job of putting bunts down when we needed to today and had some great defensive plays to close out the game."
 
Sophomore Megan Carnase pitched a complete game, allowing eight hits and four runs, two of which were earned. She also tallied five strikeouts, to finish the season fanning 45 batters.
 
Holy Cross (12-26, 7-11 PL) saw Emily Jarvis go 2-for-4 on the day with two runs. Six other Crusader players registered hits in the game, while Emma Keough reeled in two RBIs.
 
Gennifer Durham pitched 4.1 innings for the Crusaders, giving up five hits and four runs, before Julia Barrett came in for relief, allowing two hits and two runs during her 2.2 innings of work.
 
The Raiders notched the game's opening run in the top of the first thanks to a two-out solo home run by Schlaefer over the left field fence.
 
Holy Cross quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning with three runs to take over the lead at 3-1.
 
Colgate pulled within one in the top of the third after Schlaefer brought home another Raider run with a double to center field. Her hit scored Fleming from first, who had singled on the previous at bat.
 
The Raiders took back their lead with four big runs in the top of the fifth. Alex Gadiano earned a leadoff walk to get a baserunner on. Katie Bushee advanced her to second with a sacrifice bunt before Fleming reached base thanks to an error, which allowed Gadiano to touch home to knot the score. Fleming made it all the way to third on the error as well.
 
Schlaefer then notched a walk and shifted to second to get two runners in scoring position. The Crusaders registered their second out of the inning but a Wilson double to left field scored two more Raider runs. Murray followed that up singling to center field, which allowed Wilson to score, giving Colgate the 6-3 edge.
 
Holy Cross earned one run back in the bottom half but couldn't close the gap, as the Raiders recorded the final few outs to secure the victory.
 
The Colgate Softball Class of 2014, compiled of Fleming, Martin, Eileen Ornousky and Tera Vaughn, has accumulated a total of 75 overall victories while also notching an overall Patriot League record of 42-35.