HAMILTON – Colgate softball sophomore Virginia Irby smacked her first home run of the season, but it wasn't enough as Bucknell claimed a 5-1 victory over Colgate in the series finale of a three-game set at Eaton Street Field Sunday.
 
The teams combined for just one hit through the first three frames before Bucknell broke through in the top of the fourth. The Bison scored two runs on two hits, a hit by pitch and a walk to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Irby got the Raiders on the board in the bottom of the frame as she crushed her first home run of the season over the left center fence to cut the Colgate deficit to 2-1 through four.

Virginia Irby CRUSHES her first home run of the season over the left field fence?? Raiders within 2-1. #GoGate pic.twitter.com/EFdtidXiqH

— Colgate Softball (@ColgateSoftball) April 22, 2018

Sophomore Jessica Hay took the circle with two outs in the fourth and kept the Bison hitless until the seventh and final inning. Bucknell used three hits and a Colgate error to plate three and stretch its lead to 5-1.
 
Colgate got a hit in the bottom of the seventh, but Bucknell pitcher Raeanna Geffert took care of the rest to close out the 5-1 Bison victory.
 
BOTTOM LINE

• Bucknell 5, Colgate 1

 
WON-LOST RECORDS

• The league-leading Bison improve to 23-19-1 overall and 12-3 in Patriot League play.
• Colgate drops to 8-28 on the season and 3-9 against league foes.

 
KEY RAIDER INFO

• Irby's home run was her first of the season and her second career dinger. She's the sixth different Raider to go yard this season.
• Irby, senior Holly Geranen, first-year Mia Guevarra, junior Lauren La Terra and first-year Christiana Cottrell all tallied hits for the Raiders.
• First-year Bella Crow and Hay combined to strike out five Bison.

 
UP NEXT

• The Raiders will head to Syracuse Wednesday for a midweek doubleheader before traveling to Holy Cross next weekend to resume Patriot League play.
• First pitch of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orange is slated for 3 p.m.