JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Strong pitching and timely hitting led Colgate to a 2-1 victory over Jacksonville and a doubleheader split on Saturday after falling to South Dakota State 1-0 in the opener.
 
With the split, Colgate is now 1-3 on the season. South Dakota State moved to 5-3, while Jacksonville fell to 3-4 with the loss.
 
Game 1: South Dakota State 1, Colgate 0
 
A solo home run by Ali Herdliska in the bottom of the first proved to be the only run South Dakota State needed in the opener.
 
It was a pitching duel from there. Bella Crow settled in and pitched a complete game, scattering six hits with three walks and a strikeout over six frames.
 
Crow's counterpart Olivia Douglas won the duel with a complete-game shutout behind five strikeouts, five hits, and two walks over seven innings.
 
Virginia Irby reached scoring position on a two-out double down the left field line in the top of the fourth, but she was left there on an inning-ending foul out to the catcher.
 
Colgate came away with its best scoring chance in the top of the fifth after back-to-back singles had Jordan Miller and Mia Guevarra set up on first and third with nobody out.

A pop out on the infield was unable to advance the runners, however, and Miller was later caught stealing home to erase the threat. Another pop out left the Raiders empty with the score remaining 1-0 in favor of the Jackrabbits.
 
Crow continued to hold the Jackrabbits' offense at bay but Colgate was unable to produce a run in the 1-0 final score.

Game 2: Colgate 2, Jacksonville 1

Nicole Rounsavill blasted a two-run homer and Kaitlyn Borruso and Jessica Hay combined to toss seven strong innings to lead Colgate to its first victory of the season in the nightcap.
 
Miller led off the top of the second with a single back up the middle and it did not take long for her to cross home plate. Rounsavill belted a long fly ball over the fence in left field and the Raiders were out in front, 2-0.
 
The Dolphins cut the Raider lead in half in the bottom of the fourth. Hay relieved Borruso and worked out of a jam with a pair of groundouts to keep Colgate in the lead, 2-1.
 
Hay slammed the door with four strong innings in relief. She allowed just one hit the rest of the way and the runner was caught stealing by Virginia Irby in the bottom of the fifth.
 
After a scoreless sixth, Hay set the Dolphins down in order in the seventh to secure the 2-1 victory.
 
Borruso allowed three hits and one run (unearned) with a walk over three innings in her first career start. Hay picked up the win with just one hit allowed over four scoreless frames of relief.
 
FROM THE SOURCE
• Colgate head coach Marissa Lamison-Myers:

On the pitching and defense: "We had great pitching by all three today. We did a good job of getting ahead, which always helps. Defensively, we were solid, Jordan made a huge catch early in the JU game and Becca had three diving catches in the outfield. They were all clutch. Morgan Farrah also made a diving catch in the 5/6 hole to end the game. We now just have to bottle this up and take it with us next weekend."

On the timely hitting: "Offensively, we came up with clutch hits when we needed them. The two-run shot by Nicole obviously was the game winner but we continued to put pressure on the defense. "

KEY RAIDER NOTES
• Rounsavill's home run was the sixth of her career and first of the season for the Raiders.
• She led Colgate with two hits in the opener against South Dakota State.
• Rebecca Johnson, Meghan Romero, and Miller each finished with two hits in game two.
• Crow, Borruso, and Hay combined to allow just one earned run over 13 innings of work.

UP NEXT
• Colgate will play five games next weekend in Madeira Beach, Fla., starting with a doubleheader Friday against Georgetown and Middle Tennessee State.
• First pitch against the Hoyas is slated for 11 a.m.