Patriot League Tourney Central
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Despite outhitting second-seeded Bucknell in the opening game of the Patriot League Tournament, third-seeded Colgate dropped a 3-1 decision to the Bison here Thursday.
Brigit Ieuter pitched another impressive game giving up just one hit in the opening 3.2 innings. In total she allowed five hits, three of which came in the sixth inning, and three runs, two earned, during her 5.1 innings of work.
Megan Carnase came in to tally the final two outs of the sixth and did so in strikeout fashion.
On the day six different Raiders posted hits in the game but the Raiders couldn't seem to really string them together when they needed to.
Mariel Schlaefer,
Marisa Dowling,
Tara Grennan,
Holly Geranen,
Alex Gadiano and Ieuter all posted hits in the game with Ieuter and Gadiano notching back-to-back doubles to score the Raiders' lone run.
That run came in the second after the Bison had recorded the first two outs of the inning. Colgate maintained its lead throughout much of the game, working its way out of small two-baserunner jams.
It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth inning that Bucknell knotted the score at 1-1. The assigned "home" team in the contest then added two more runs in the sixth, which ultimately sealed the win for the Bison.
Colgate faces Army West Point on Friday in a win or go home contest at 1:05 p.m. This will be an elimination game with the winner playing immediately following against the loser of the Lehigh-Bucknell contest, which is slated for 10:30 a.m. In the Raiders game with the Black Knights, Colgate will be listed as the home team.
Bottom Line• Bucknell 3, Colgate 1
Won-Lost Records• Bucknell improves to 34-18 on the year.
• Colgate shifts to 16-20.
Key Raider Info• Schlaefer, Dowling, Grennan, Geranen, Ieuter and Gadiano all registered a hit on the day with Gadiano reeling in the Raiders' lone run.
• Ieuter also accounted for Colgate's one run.
•
Katie Bushee earned two walks to lead all student-athletes, while Schlaefer, Gadiano and
Kate Zucker all tallied five putouts.
• In the circle Ieuter pitched a strong four innings, allowing just two hits. In total she gave up five hits and three runs, just two of which were earned, in her 5.1 innings.
• Carnase came in for relief getting two huge strikeouts to end the sixth inning.
Facts & Figures• The Raiders outhit the Bison 6-5 but stranded eight runners on base.
• Colgate tallied just one run and one RBI on the day.
• Ieuter and Carnase teamed up to fan five batters.
Bucknell's Numbers• Kristen Zahn led all players going 2-for-3 with one run.
• Meghan Kovac, Erin Cox and Christina Martinez all added hits as well with Martinez reeling in two of the Bison's final three runs.
• Dana Nielsen got the starting nod pitching three innings, allowing five hits and one run.
• Amanda Fazio came in for relief giving up just one hit in her four innings of work.
Patriot League Tournament• Both underdogs fell on the opening day of the Patriot League Tournament.
• The hosts and first-seeded, Mountain Hawks, took a 3-0 victory over fourth-seeded Army West Point, while the second-seeded Bison rallied for a 3-1 come-from-behind win against second-seeded Colgate.
• Lehigh-Bucknell will play on Friday in the winners bracket at 10:30 a.m. with the loser facing the winner of the Colgate-Army West Point game, which is scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch. The loser of the Lehigh-Bucknell game and the winner of the Colgate-Army West Point game will face off at 3:35 p.m.
Straight From The Source•
Colgate head coach Melissa Finley: (on her thoughts from the game) "We got off to a strong start today but couldn't manage to keep Bucknell off the scoreboard."
"It was a great game and it's what tournament play is all about. They managed to come up with the big hit when they needed it and we took our foot off the gas."
"This team still has a lot of fight in them and it was promising to see so many of our hitters register a hit in the game. Hopefully we can string more together tomorrow."
Up Next• Colgate will meet Army West Point on Friday in an elimination game beginning at 1:05 p.m.
• If the Raiders win they would advance to play the loser of the Lehigh-Bucknell game in another elimination contest at 3:35 p.m.
• The Black Knights fell to host Lehigh earlier on Thursday 3-0.
• Colgate is 3-0 against Army West Point so far this season.
• Live stats and video will be available at the start of the game.
