SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Colgate Softball swept its opening day at the Santa Clara tournament with wins over Iona and the host Broncos.
 
The Raiders recorded a thrilling 4-3 victory over Santa Clara in nine innings during game one before earning their first shutout of the season in a 4-0 win over Iona.
 
There were several top performers on the day with the most notable being Katie Bushee and Holly Geranen. Bushee finished 5-for-8 with an RBI and three runs. Geranen registered five RBI, three runs and three walks after going 3-for-5 in the twin bill. Three of Bushee's five hits were for extra bases, while Geranen cleared the bases twice with her first two long balls of the year.
 
Brigit Ieuter also had a strong day in the batters box going 3-for-6 with a run and a walk.
 
She earned the win in the circle during game one as well after pitching her third complete game of the year. The senior allowed six hits and three runs, two earned, during her nine innings of work. She also fanned a season-best six batters on the day.
 
In nightcap, Kyle Griswold was beyond impressive, giving up just seven hits in seven complete innings of work. The sophomore notched a season-high six strikeouts as well.
 
Colgate is back in action Saturday when it closes out the Santa Clara tournament with contests against North Dakota and Cal State Bakersfield at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. All times are Pacific time. Live stats will be available at the start.

Bottom Line
• Colgate 4, Santa Clara 3 (9 innings) – Game One
• Colgate 4, Iona 0 – Game Two

Won-Lost Records
• Colgate improves to 3-10
• Santa Clara drops to 5-21
• Iona dips to 4-7
 
How It Happened
• Game One
   - The Broncos jumped in front 3-0 after the third inning.
   - Colgate would not waver though as Geranen tied things up with one big swing in the top of the fifth inning. Romero started the rally earning a lead-off walk. Bushee followed with a single to center field before Geranen's blast to left field brought everyone home.
   - With neither team notching the go-ahead run in regulation, the game was forced into extra innings.
   - In the top of the ninth, Ieuter was place on second base, due to international rules. Colgate shifted her to third with a perfect sacrifice bunt. The Broncos then recorded the second out of the inning. On the ensuing play, however, Bushee double to left field, which allowed Ieuter to touch home plate.
   - The Raider defense then stepped up, and despite having a runner start out at second base were able to register three straight outs to complete the win.

• Game Two
   - Colgate took a 1-0 advantage in the first after Bushee started the game with a triple to right field. Geranen immediately followed with a single to bring Bushee home for the early edge.
   - Geranen then led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run to center field, handing her No. 2 on the day.
   - The Raiders tacked on two more runs in the fifth. Bushee again started the rally with a double to left center. After a Geranen walk, the Gaels registered the first out of the inning. During the ensuing at bat, Bushee stole third on a great heads-up play, catching Iona off-guard.
   - With runners on first and third, Iona's Jordan Courage threw a wild pitch, which allowed Bushee to score. During that same play, Geranen shifted up a base and then moved to third following a throwing error on the Gaels catcher.
   - Iona then earned the second out of the inning but a Gillian Murray single during the next at bat brought Geranen home.
   - Colgate allowed just two hits in the final two innings, which secured the Raiders' their second win of the day.

Key Raider Info
• Four Raiders earned multiple hits on the day in Bushee, Geranen, Ieuter and Romero.    
• Geranen notched two long balls, while Bushee recorded a triple and two doubles.
• Both Ieuter and Griswold earned wins in the circle shifting their season records to 2-4 and 1-4, respectively.
 
Lineup Breakdown
• Game One
   Bushee (CF): 3-for-5 with an RBI and run
   Geranen (3B): 1-for-3 with 3 RBI, a run and two walks
   Grennan (RF): 1-for-3 with two walks
   La Terra (SS): 0-for-4
   Murray (LF): 0-for-3
   White (DP): 0-for-3
   Ieuter (P): 2-for-4 with a run
   Gadiano (2B): 0-for-2
   Moore (PH): 0-for-1
   Romero (1B): 2-for-3 with a run and walk
 
• Game Two
   Bushee (CF): 2-for-3 with two runs
   Geranen (3B): 2-for-2 with two RBI, two runs, and a walk
   Grennan (RF): 0-for-2
   La Terra (SS): 0-for-3
   Murray (LF): 1-for-3 with an RBI
   Ieuter (1B): 1-for-2 with a walk
   White (C): 0-for-2
   Daly (DP): 1-for-3
   Romero (2B): 0-for-2

Facts & Figures
• Colgate finished with 16 hits on the day to go along with its eight runs.
• The Raiders stranded 15 baserunners, including 10 in game one.  
• Bushee earned her team-leading seventh stolen base in the nightcap.
• With Bushee's 22nd career double, she moves into a tie with Tiana Tyeskey '09 for 17th all-time in Colgate's records book.
 
Straight From The Source
• Colgate head coach Melissa Finley: (on her thoughts from the day) "It was great to see the team bounce back and compete today. They played with passion and even though we made it a little tough on ourselves in the first game with a couple of defensive miscues, we were able to make it up with the bats, thanks to a few people having big days at the plate.
 
"It was really nice to win a close one in extra innings as well after being on the other end of those recently.
 
"Kyle pitched an outstanding shutout in game two and it was really nice to see us get some runs early and keep the lead."

Up Next
• The Raiders close out the Santa Clara tournament on Saturday with games against North Dakota and Cal State Bakersfield. Colgate meets the Fighting Hawks at 11 a.m. Pacific time, before facing off with the Roadrunners at 3 p.m.
• Live stats will be available at the start of both games.