EASTON, Pa. – The Raiders touched home plate 25 times here on Sunday to complete the series sweep of Lafayette.
This was also the second time this season Colgate swept a Patriot League opponent. The Raiders are now 8-1 in Patriot League play and have won eight of the last nine contests.
Junior
Alex Gadiano registered two very timely hits in the doubleheader with her first career grand slam to end game one and a walk-off two-run double in game two. In total she accounted for three runs and six RBIs.
She wasn't the only Raider to have an impressive day though as
Holly Geranen,
Katie Bushee and
Tara Grennan all had strong performances. Geranen posted five hits, a team-high six runs and one RBI, while Bushee and Grennan notched four hits a piece. Bushee added a run and three RBIs to go along with Grennan's three runs and four RBIs.
It was an overall team effort in the games as everyone who stepped up to the plate recorded at least one hit.
In the circle
Brigit Ieuter again pitched a shutout in game one with five strong innings. The junior allowed just three hits, while striking out one batter. Ieuter has also now earned all five of Colgate's shutout wins this season.
For game two
Kira Griswold and
Megan Carnase combined to notch Colgate's 12 victory of the year. Griswold got the start and allowed three hits and three runs, two of which were earned, in her two innings of work. Carnase came in for relief going three innings giving up four hits and two runs for the win. Both pitchers fanned two batters during their time in the circle.
After a scoreless opening three innings of game one,
Marisa Dowling blasted a home run to center field to get the Raiders on the board. Two batters later it was Grennan with the long ball to give Colgate the 2-0 edge. The Raiders finished off the fifth inning with a season-high nine runs, sparked by Gadiano's massive grand slam shot, to secure the five-inning victory.
Lafayette made it interesting early in game two with its first runs of the weekend. The Leopards took a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first but a four-run bottom half for Colgate swayed the momentum back in the Raiders favor. One more run for the Leopards in the top of the second pulled them to within 4-3. Again the Raiders answered though with a big bottom half tallying five runs to break the game open at 9-3.
Despite allowing two runs in the third, five additional runs for Colgate in the fourth and fifth ultimately earned the Raiders the win.
Colgate is back in action Tuesday when it heads to Albany for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
Bottom Line• Colgate 11, Lafayette 0 – 5 innings
• Colgate 14, Lafayette 5 – 5 innings
Won-Lost Records• Colgate shifts to 12-10 overall, while improving to 8-1 in Patriot League play
• Lafayette dips to 3-25 and 1-8, respectively.
Key Raider Info• Geranen led all student-athletes going 5-for-7 with six runs and one RBI.
• Bushee and Grennan added four hits, while six other Raider players tallied two hits a piece.
• Gadiano earned a team-high six RBIs on the day to go along with Dowling and Grennan's four.
• Ieuter earned her seventh victory of the year in the circle during game one after allowing just three hits in her five innings of work.
• Griswold and Carnase combined for five solid innings in the nightcap. Griswold got the start giving up three hits and three runs, two of which were earned, before Carnase came in for relief allowing four hits and two runs in the win.
Cool Notes• Of Gadiano's three career home runs, two have been off Lafayette pitching.
• Colgate posted five long balls in the doubleheader, four in game one alone, and two came nearly back-to-back.
• The Raiders have now swept two league opponents. Colgate also took all three games against Army.
• With another scoreless game pitched in Sunday's opener, Ieuter has now thrown all five of Colgate's shutout wins.
Facts & Figures• Hitting was definitely not an issue for the Raiders in the twin bill as they combined for 26 hits and 25 runs.
• In total Colgate earned 23 RBIs, while committing just one error in the games.
• The Colgate pitching staff combined for five strikeouts on the day.
Lafayette's Numbers• Kelly Lallis, Stephanie Thomas and Samantha Sweigart all notched solid outings for the Leopards.
• Lallis went 2-for-5 with a run, while Thomas and Sweigart added two hits of their own. Sweigart and Thomas accounted for two and one RBI, respectively.
• Thomas also took the circle for the Leopards pitching 4.1 innings in the two games allowing 10 hits and eight runs.
• Bryn Gornick came in for relief in game one, pitching 0.1 innings giving up five hits and seven runs. Lindsey Cherry started game two, allowing 11 hits and 10 runs in her four innings of work.
Straight From The Source•
Colgate head coach Melissa Finley: (on her thoughts from the doubleheader) "I am really proud of this team for striving to be better every time they take the field. It felt really nice to get our first run-rule decisions of the season and not allow Lafayette to push back in the third game."
"Brigit (Ieuter) had another great shutout win for us in game one. It took a little while but once the bats woke up we were driving the ball and were able to come up with quiet a few extra base hits today."
"I was especially happy for
Alex Gadiano hitting a grand slam in the first game and the game ending double in the nightcap."
"Everyone contributed and I was extremely happy with our discipline at the plate this weekend."
"We are looking forward to a mid-week doubleheader with Albany and working hard this week in practice to prep for Holy Cross, hopefully in our home opening weekend series."
Up Next• The Raiders have a mid-week twin bill at Albany on Tuesday set for a 3 p.m. first pitch. Following those games, Colgate welcomes Holy Cross on Saturday and Sunday for another conference three-game set.
• Live stats are available at the start of all games and live video will be available at the start of all home contests.
