BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Colgate settled for a doubleheader split in the opening day of the UAB tournament on Friday, defeating Jacksonville 5-2 before falling to the host Blazers 1-0 in the nightcap.
Steph Jacoby led the offense on the day with three hits, including a pair of doubles.
Jordan Miller cranked a home run and finished with two RBIs, while
Virginia Irby and
Morgan Farrah each finished with two hits in the doubleheader.
Jess Hay earned the win on the mound against Jacksonville, firing 4 2/3 innings of relief to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Bailey Misken, despite shouldering the loss against UAB, struck out two and did not allow an earned run in six innings of work.
Game 1: Colgate 5, Jacksonville 2
Colgate jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the opening game after Irby worked a leadoff walk and came around to score on an RBI groundout by
Nicole Rounsavill in the top of the first.
After Jacksonville tied the game in the home half of the second, the Raiders tacked on three runs in the third inning to take the lead for good.
Rebecca Johnson led off with a walk and stole second before crossing home on a single by Rounsavill. Jacoby roped a double down the left field line and Miller followed with a two-run shot to left center to push the lead to 4-1.
Bella Crow started on the mound, but did not factor in the decision after allowing one run in 2 1/3 innings. Hay picked up the win in 4 2/3 innings of relief, scattering one run on one hit with two strikeouts.
Jacksonville scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, but
Morgan Farrah answered right back in the top of the seventh with an RBI double to deep center. Hay worked around a one-out walk in the seventh to seal the 5-2 opening victory for the Raiders.
Game 2: UAB 1, Colgate 0
Misken extended her streak to 28 consecutive innings without an earned run, but an unearned tally in the bottom of the third was the difference. She scattered three hits and two walks over six innings with four strikeouts, but dropped to 7-2 with the loss.
Jacksonville's third inning started harmless with back-to-back groundouts, but a two-out single by KK Crocker kept the inning alive. Crocker then stole second and came around to score on a defensive miscue to give the home team a 1-0 advantage.
Colgate, despite outhitting UAB 5-3, could not crack the scoreboard.
Sabrina Odierno gave the Raiders life with a one-out single in the seventh, but she was stranded there and UAB held on for the 1-0 victory.
Irby, Farrah, Jacoby, Miller, and Odierno finished with the five hits for the Raiders.
QUOTES
Colgate Head Coach Marissa Lamison-Myers
On the doubleheader split:
"I was proud of the way we battled today. We had some good at-bats at the plate and continued to pitch well. We are looking forward to getting after it again tomorrow against UAB and Furman."
GAME NOTES
• Misken has fired 28 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, a streak that spans five appearances, including four starts, dating back to Feb. 22.
• Despite the loss, Misken lowered her season ERA to 0.89 in 55 1/3 innings.
• Miller's home run was her second of the season.
• She is now tied for sixth on Colgate's all-time chart with 19 for her career.
• Colgate leads the Patriot League by a wide margin with 16 home runs this season.
• Boston University is the next closest with nine.
UP NEXT
Colgate (11-6) continues its weekend in Birmingham, Alabama, with a twinbill on Saturday against UAB and Furman. Game times are 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Central.
