BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – First-year success and two strong pitching performances highlighted Colgate's season-opening split on Friday afternoon at Gardner-Webb. The Raiders fell to Rhode Island 2-1 before bouncing back to defeat Youngstown State 3-1 in the nightcap.
 
Colgate offensively was led by first-year Jillian Herbst with three hits including a pair of doubles. Fellow first-year Mia Edwards and Bailey Misken combined for 13 strikeouts and just three earned runs total in 12 innings in the circle.
 
Game 1 | Rhode Island 2, Colgate 1
 
Colgate got a five-inning, one-hit gem from freshman Edwards in the opener. In her Raider debut she allowed two runs on just one hit and struck out six over five innings.
 
Edwards' counterpart was just as strong, however, as URI's Liz Lynchard struck out six and scattered one run on five hits in the complete game effort to earn the win.
 
Colgate outhit Rhode Island 5-1 with base knocks from Morgan Farrah, Adrienne Nardone, Kara Fusco, Elizabeth Nitka, and Herbst.
 
Nitka's double in the fifth inning scored Herbst for Colgate's lone run. That tied the game at 1-1 but Rhode Island reclaimed the lead for good on a passed ball in the top of the sixth.
 
The Raiders put runners on second and third with nobody out in the seventh but could not scratch across the tying run. Back-to-back groundouts preceded an infield popout and Rhode Island secured the 2-1 final.
 
Kaitlyn Borruso tossed two scoreless innings of relief for the Raiders.
 
Game 2 | Colgate 3, Youngstown State 1
 
Another strong outing in the circle paved the way to Colgate's first win of the season. Misken fired a complete game, scattering six hits and one earned run over seven innings with seven strikeouts.
 
Youngstown State scored first when DeLeon doubled home Roach in the third inning.
 
Colgate's offense was tied down until the fourth when Meaghan Houk blasted her first collegiate home run over the wall in left field. Morgan Farrah gave the Raiders the lead in the sixth inning with a two run single, scoring Rachel Carney and Nitka.
 
The 3-1 lead was all Misken needed as she mowed through the final two innings to pick up her first win of the season in the circle.
 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Marissa Lamison-Myers
 
"Our first years really did a great job in their collegiate debuts today. I was happy with the effort our pitchers gave. They gave us a chance in both games. Our defense was rock solid as well. I am hoping our bats can wake up tomorrow."

UP NEXT
Colgate (1-1) is back in action for two games on Saturday. The Raiders face Youngstown State once more at 11 a.m. before the nightcap against Gardner-Webb scheduled for 1 p.m.