LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Raiders came out with their bats swinging and took both games of a Sunday Patriot League doubleheader with Bucknell.
 
After a hard-fought loss to the Bison on Saturday, 8-6, Colgate responded in the best way defeating its host 7-4 and 5-2.
 
The Raiders now sit in third place in the league after the first weekend of conference play.
 
Junior catcher Mariel Schlaefer and sophomores Tara Grennan and Gillian Murray led the Raiders on the day. Schlaefer was 4-for-6 with three runs, while Grennan and Murray accounted for four RBI.
 
Katie Bushee and Marisa Dowling added their first home runs of the season as well.
 
In game one, the Raiders jumped out to the 3-0 edge early but saw the Bison answer with four runs in the second inning. Colgate eventually regained its lead with another three-run inning before an insurance run in the sixth gave them the 7-4 victory.
 
Bucknell took a 1-0 advantage in the first inning of game two, but the Raiders tied the contest during their next at bat. The Bison pulled back ahead in the bottom of the second but again Colgate responded with the equalizing run in the top of the third. The Raiders tallied three more runs in the fifth thanks to a three-run shot from Grennan to ultimately secure the 5-2 win.
 
The Raiders had two strong outings from their pitchers in junior Brigit Ieuter and first-year Kira Griswold. Ieuter pitched game one allowing eight hits and four runs, while Griswold handled game two giving up just three hits and two runs. Both pitchers allowed just one earned run during their time in the circle.
 
Colgate has a midweek three-game make-up series with Army beginning on Wednesday at 4 p.m. These two teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday before closing out the set on Thursday with a single game.
 
Bottom Line
• Colgate 7, Bucknell 4
• Colgate 5, Bucknell 2

Won-Lost Records
• Colgate improves to 6-10 overall, while shifting to 2-1 in Patriot League play
• Bucknell dips to 19-12 and 1-2, respectively.

Key Raider Info
• Schlaefer and Murray led the Raiders with four hits each. Schlaefer added three runs, while Murray earned four RBIs.
• All but two Raiders that stepped into the batters box on Sunday registered at least one hit throughout the two games.
• Bushee accounted for three Colgate runs, while both Grennan and Dowling posted two runs each.
• Two Colgate pitchers saw action in the circle on Sunday in Ieuter and Griswold
• Ieuter pitched game one allowing eight hits and four runs, one of which was earned, while fanning four batters.
• Griswold took command of game two and gave up just three hits and two runs, one earned. The rookie also struck out six Bison batters.  
 
Doubleheader Highlights
• Griswold earned her first collegiate win in the circle during game two. Also with her three strikeouts she continues to lead all Colgate pitchers with a team-best 24.
• Bushee and Dowling recorded their first season long-ball, while Grennan added to her season mark with her team-leading fourth homer.

Facts & Figures
• The Raiders posted 12 runs and 16 hits on the day.
• Colgate also notched 12 RBI, but stranded 17 baserunners.
• Bushee and Schlaefer tallied a team-high two stolen bases, while Dowling added one more during her one game of action.
 
Bucknell Numbers
• Erin Cox, Kristen Zahn and Jacee Almond all notched three, two and two hits on the day, respectively, to lead the Bison.
• Almond accounted for two runs and one RBI; while Zahn and Cox both added a run and RBI each.
• Three Bucknell pitchers saw action on Sunday with Dana Nielson and Amanda Fazio each getting the start.
• Nielsen pitched 4.1 innings of game one allowing four hits and five runs, all of which were earned. Lara Bean came in for relief giving up two hits and two runs in her 2.2 innings of work. Both pitchers struck out three batters each as well. Fazio pitched all of game two allowing 10 hits and five runs, four of which were earned. She alone fanned six Colgate batters. 
 
Straight From The Source
• Colgate head coach Melissa Finley: (on her thoughts from the doubleheader) "I was really proud of the team today. We battled every single pitch of both games and it was great to see them get the results."
 
"We got off to a great start in game one with Katie Bushee's home run and had another strong offensive outing as a team. Marisa Dowling hit a clutch home run, Gilliam Murray had some timely RBIs and we were able to generate runs when we needed them."
 
"The second game was a back-and-forth battle until Tara Grennan blasted the three-run home run. It was nice to see us come up with the big hit in the right moment. Kira (Griswold) pitched a great game as well only giving up three hits for her first collegiate win."

Up Next
• The Raiders next travel to West Point, New York, for a three-game set with Army on Wednesday and Thursday. The first game of the series is set for Wednesday at 4 p.m. followed by the second game of the day's doubleheader. These two teams will then close out the three games with a contest on Thursday.
• The Black Knights took their opening three league games against Holy Cross this past weekend and sit tied for first in the conference with a mark of 3-0.
• Live stats and video available at the start of all games.