ALBANY, N.Y. – Virginia Irby walloped a three-run homer and Kaitlyn Borruso tossed a complete-game gem to lead Colgate to a 4-1 victory over UAlbany and a doubleheader split after the Raiders dropped the opener 8-2 on Saturday.
 
With the split, Colgate moved to 12-16 on the season. Albany is now 11-9.
 
Game 1: UAlbany 8, Colgate 2

Colgate threatened in the top of the first after Rebecca Johnson and Jordan Miller worked a pair of walks around a hit-by-pitch by Morgan Farrah, but an inning-ended lineout stranded the bases loaded without a run crossing the plate.
 
Albany struck first with three runs on four hits in the home half. Chelsea Hinege homered and Sarah Petzold and Maranda Jimenez both knocked in a run to open a 3-0 lead for the home team after one inning of play.
 
Colgate's first hit of the afternoon was a loud one, as Mia Guevarra led off the top of the second with a solo blast to get the Raiders on the board. The sophomore launched a 1-0 pitch over the wall for her second home run of the season to cut the Great Dane lead to 3-1.
 
Albany added two runs in the second and three more in the third, capped off by an RBI double from Katie Falotico to carry an 8-1 advantage after three innings. 
 
Jessica Hay finished her outing strong in the circle with three consecutive scoreless frames.
 
Johnson started the fifth with a single and Meghan Romero was hit by a pitch to put the first two batters of the inning on base. Irby took ball four to load the bases, before Miller brought home Johnson on an RBI groundout to plate Colgate's second run of the contest.
 
Back-to-back singles from Guevarra and Lauren La Terra had the Raiders set up for more in the sixth. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Johnson's scorching line drive found the glove of the Great Danes' shortstop for an inning-ending double play.
 
Colgate could not generate an offensive threat in the seventh and Albany secured Game 1, 8-2.
 
Game 2: Colgate 4, UAlbany 1
 
Borruso provided the spark Colgate needed in Game 2 with a complete-game effort in the circle to lead the Raiders to the nightcap victory.
 
The first-year went the distance and allowed just one run on four hits with a strikeout to pick up her second win of the season.
 
Borruso allowed back-to-back singles in the first, but she worked out of a bases-loaded situation with a groundout to keep the Great Danes off the board. 
 
Colgate came away with an early scoring opportunity after Cayman Coughlin and Johnson showcased patience at the plate with back to-back walks in the third. Romero advanced both runners into scoring position on a groundout to the right side, but a strikeout ended the frame with no harm done.
 
Borruso was cruising early on and retired eight straight batters after perfect 1-2-3 innings in the third and fourth innings set the stage for the bats to come alive in the fifth.
 
Coughlin led off with a single to right field and Romero got the Raiders on the board two batters later on an RBI double to right center.
 
After Farrah poked a single up the middle, Irby stepped to the plate and walloped a 1-1 pitch over the wall for a three-run home run to extend the Raiders' lead to 4-0.
 
The Great Danes answered to get a run back in the home half of the fifth, but Borruso battled back to fire perfect sixth and seventh innings to lock down the 4-1 victory in Game 2. 
 
FROM THE SOURCE

• Colgate head coach Marissa Lamison-Myers:

"Our offense did another great job today putting together great at-bats and hitting the ball solid. Kaitlyn had an outstanding second game for us in the circle. Her composure and control kept us in the game until our offense came alive. Mia again came up with another huge catch to end the game."

KEY RAIDER NOTES
• After allowing eight runs in the first three innings of the day, Colgate shut down Albany for just one run over the last 10 innings.
• Colgate picked up its first win over UAlbany since 2015. 
• Guevarra's Game 1 homer was her second collegiate long ball.
• Guevarra and Irby paced the Raiders with two hits apiece in the opener.
• Irby crushed her third home run of the season in Game 2.
• Her blast was Colgate's third three-run homer in the last four games. 
• Irby finished 3-for-4 with three RBI to lead Colgate offensively in Game 2. 
• Irby led the Raiders on the day, going 5-for-7 with a double, home run, and three RBI.
• La Terra, Romero, and Guevarra finished with two hits apiece.
• The Raiders' 15 home runs this season trail Boston University by one for best in the Patriot League. 

UP NEXT
• Colgate stays in the America East to take on Binghamton in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
• First pitch from Vestal is slated for 2:30 p.m.