PHOENIX – The Colgate softball team split a pair of one-run decisions on Saturday, knocking off Incarnate Word 4-3 before falling to Grand Canyon 6-5 in the nightcap.
Taylor Ludwick and
Adrienne Nardone each had three hits in the doubleheader to lead the Raiders offensively.
Kara Fusco drove in three runs – all of which came from one swing of the bat – with a three-run homer in the opening game on Saturday. Ludwick also homered as part of her multi-hit day at the plate.
Game 1 | Colgate 4, Incarnate Word 3
All seven runs were scored in two innings of the opener. Incarnate Word used a two-run homer from Maddie Boldt to open a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and that was the margin until Colgate put up a four-spot in the home half of the third inning.
Morgan Farrah got the Raiders on the board with an RBI double to left center scoring
Jillian Herbst. Two batters later, Fusco brought everybody home with a three-run blast to left on the first pitch she saw. Fusco's three-run shot gave Colgate a 4-3 lead.
Kaitlyn Borruso was lights out in the circle, firing 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. She allowed just one hit and struck out one to keep the Raiders in front.
Mia Edwards worked around an infield single in the top of the seventh to secure her first collegiate save and preserve the 4-3 victory.
Bailey Misken started the game and allowed three runs (all unearned) on four hits with two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Borruso picked up the win with her strong relief outing.
Fusco, Farrah, and Borruso had Colgate's three hits in the game.
Game 2 | Grand Canyon 6, Colgate 5
Colgate opened the scoring in the top of the first when Herbst scored on a wild pitch. Grand Canyon scored the next three runs and held a 3-1 lead until Ludwick cranked a two-run homer to tie things up at 3-3 in the top of the third.
The game was knotted up again at 4-4 after both teams traded a run in the fifth. Colgate climbed back in front 5-4 with a single by Nardone down the left field line in the top of the seventh. Nardone's RBI knock scored Ludwick and gave the Raiders a one-run lead heading to the bottom of the seventh.
A flyout started the inning, but the next two batters reached base, and then they both came around to score on a fielding error to give the home team the come-from-behind 6-5 victory.
Ludwick and Nardone each recorded three hits and two RBIs in the game. Edwards started in the circle and pitched three innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Misken shouldered the loss, giving up three runs (one earned) with three strikeouts over three innings of relief.
UP NEXT
Colgate (7-7) closes out the weekend with a single game against Pacific on Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern.
