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HAMILTON – Colgate got back on the winning track Thursday with a non-conference doubleheader sweep of Niagara.
 
The Raiders tallied a 2-1 victory in the opener before shutting out the Purple Eagles in the nightcap 2-0.
 
Katie Bushee and Alex Gadiano led Colgate with three hits on the day. Bushee added two runs and one RBI, while Gadiano posted one run herself. Gillian Murray, Tara Grennan and Alyssa Chaulklin also earned multiple hits on the day with Grennan reeling in an RBI and Chaulklin accounting for one of the Raiders' final four runs. Three other Colgate players added one hit each.
 
Taking the starting nod in game one was Brigit Ieuter, who had a no hitter through 5.1 innings. Overall she finished allowing just four hits and one run during her 6.0 innings of work. Ieuter also managed to register five strikeouts.
 
Kira Griswold came in for relief and notched the win after pitching a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts of her own.
 
In the nightcap, Megan Carnase was solid in the circle earning a complete game to hand herself her first shutout of the year. The junior allowed just three hits, while fanning three batters.
 
After a scoreless opening two and a half innings of game one, Colgate took the go-ahead run thanks to a double from Grennan. With one out in the inning Bushee single to the shortstop to get a runner on base. During the ensuing play she stole second before the Purple Eagles recorded their second out. On the next play, however, Grennan drilled a shot to left center to score Bushee easily.
 
The Purple Eagles notched the equalizing run in the sixth but Colgate would answer in the seventh with the game-winning hit. With one out in the inning Gadiano singled to the shortstop to get a runner on. Niagara then tallied its second out but a triple from Bushee on the ensuing play brought the winning run across home plate.
 
Game two was much like the opener as neither team tallied a run through four and a half innings of play. In the bottom of the fifth though Colgate broke the deadlock with the game's first run.
 
With one out, Bushee singled to the shortstop to give the Raiders a baserunner. She stolen second during the next at bat before a Murray ground out shifted her into scoring position. On the ensuing play Grennan singled through the left side, scoring Bushee and handing Colgate the 1-0 edge.
 
The Raiders added an insurance run on the bottom of the sixth when Ieuter started the inning with a double to right center. Chaulklin then singled to advance Ieuter to third but during the next at bat Niagara tagged Ieuter out at home after she and Chaulklin tried to pull a double steal. The next batter, Alessandra Moore, walked to place runners on first and second before Gadiano hit into a fielder's choice. Chaulklin reached third on the play but Moore was tagged out at second. On the ensuing play Zucker drilled a single to right field, bringing home Chaulklin for the Raiders' second and final run of the game.
 
Colgate is back in action this weekend when it hosts Lehigh for its final regular season Patriot League weekend. The Raiders and Mountain Hawks will go head-to-head for three conference games beginning Saturday with a doubleheader. Sunday will feature a single game as well as the last home game for two special seniors. Game times for both days are noon.

Bottom Line
• Colgate 2, Niagara 1 – Game One
• Colgate 2, Niagara 0 – Game Two

Won-Lost Records
• Colgate improves to 16-16 on the season
• Niagara dips to 4-36

Key Raider Info
• Bushee and Gadiano tallied three hits each in the twin bill. Bushee recorded two runs and one RBI, while Gadiano notched one run. Bushee also stole her 33rd and 34th career bases in the games.
• Murray, Grennan and Chaulklin all posted two hits as well with Grennan adding an RBI and Chaulklin a run.
• Closing out the Raider hits was Holly Geranen, Ieuter and Zucker with singles.
• Ieuter pitched a hitless 5.1 innings in game one. In total she finished her 6.0 innings of work allowing just four hits and one run. The junior also registered five strikeouts.
• Griswold came in for relief in the seventh not conceding a hit to grab the win. She also fanned two batters.
• Carnase was in the circle for game two and registered her first shutout of the year after allowing just three hits.

Facts & Figures
• Colgate earned four runs on the day from 15 hits.
• The Raiders stranded 13 baserunners but we able to reel in four RBIs
• Colgate's pitching staff tallied 10 strikeouts on the day.
 
Niagara's Numbers
• In her one game Victoria Bretz went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Purple Eagles on the day.
• Five other Niagara players posted a hit on the day in Desarea Maldonado, Amanda Werth, Brianna Clark, Ambur Farmer and Sarah Trifoso.
• Sydney Smyers pitched game one allowing seven hits and two runs, while striking out four batters.
• In game two Taylor Grieger got the start giving up eight hits and two runs.
 
Straight From The Source
• Colgate head coach Melissa Finley: (on her thoughts from the exciting win in game one) "Overall as a team we had seven hits in that game, we just couldn't seem to string them together when we needed to."
 
"Katie (Bushee) came up with that big triple and she was due. It was only a matter of time before she came up with a big hit like that for us. It was nice to see her go with the pitch, go to the right side and hit it over that right fielder's head. We had Alex (Gadiano) going the whole way so it was a good feeling to get that win in the bottom of the seventh."
 
(on her thoughts from the doubleheader sweep and how that will help the team morale heading into the last weekend of the regular season) "It was nice to kind of switch the pace a little bit and get a couple wins back under our belt. It was just fun to be out here today. It was a gorgeous sunny day, the team was having fun and it was one of those games where it would just be a matter of time before we put some runs on the board. It's great to now take that momentum into the weekend. The team reminded themselves that they do know how to win and they know how to do it well."

Up Next
• The Raiders host Lehigh for a three-game Patriot League series beginning on Saturday at noon. Saturday will feature a doubleheader followed by a single game on Sunday also at noon.
• Sunday will also mark the final regular season contest for two senior players in Chaulklin and Zucker. Senior day festivities will happen prior to the start of the day's game.
• Live stats and video will be available at the start of all the game.

Game One Archive


Game Two Archive