GREENVILLE, N.C. – Colgate bounced back from a 5-4 extra inning loss to Rutgers with an 8-5 victory over East Carolina to secure a doubleheader split on Saturday.
 
Jillian Herbst paced the Raiders offensively with three hits on the day. Adrienne Nardone, Morgan Farrah and Kara Fusco each had two hits while Nardone drove in four runs.
 
Bailey Misken appeared in both games and pitched nine innings, allowing three earned runs with six strikeouts. Mia Edwards started the nightcap and earned the win in the circle, allowing four earned runs over 4 1/3 innings while striking out two.
 
Game 1 | Rutgers 5, Colgate 4 (8 Innings)
 
Colgate was in the driver's seat twice with leads in the seventh and eighth, but Rutgers battled back both times and eventually took the first game with two runs in the home half of the eighth. An RBI single by Gabrielle Calloway scored the winning run from second in the 5-4 final.
 
This came after Colgate took a 4-3 lead in the top of the inning when Meaghan Houk drove a single into center field to score Alexis Romero from second. The extra-inning format allowed each team to start the frame with a runner on second.
 
The Raiders led 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, but the first two Scarlet Knights to bat in the inning reached base before a bunt advanced both runners into scoring position and a sacrifice fly sent the game to extra innings tied at 3-3.
 
Eyeing its first win over a Big Ten opponent since 2017, which also came against Rutgers, Colgate led for most of the game after Kara Fusco doubled home Taylor Ludwick and Bailey Burns scored on a wild pitch to put the Raiders in front 3-2 in the top of the third.
 
The one-run lead held until Rutgers rallied in the seventh and then again in the eighth.
 
Fusco led the Raiders offensively with two hits in the decision. Misken tossed seven strong innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts.

Game 2 | Colgate 8, East Carolina 5
 
Colgate did most of its damage with a six-run top of the first inning in the nightcap. The first three batters reached base on walks and then Farrah started the scoring with a two-run double down the left field line.
 
After Steph Jacoby scored Fusco on a fielder's choice, Nardone blasted a three-run homer to straightaway center and the Raiders were sitting pretty up 6-0 after one inning.
 
Each team plated a run in the third inning before Colgate added another in the top of the fifth. Nardone came through again – this time with an RBI double to extend Colgate's lead to 8-1.
 
East Carolina closed the gap with four runs on three hits in the home of the fifth but Misken worked around two singles over each of the last two innings to lock down the 8-5 victory.
 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Marissa Lamison-Myers
 
"I was really proud of the way we bounced back today after that tough game 1 loss. Our patients at the plate allowed us to draw a significant amount of walks which lead to opportunity. This group thrives on that and we were able to take advantage of it."

UP NEXT
Colgate (6-3) closes out its weekend trip with a 10 a.m. first pitch against Rutgers on Sunday.