EASTON, Pa. — Colgate softball swept a Saturday doubleheader against Lafayette, beating the Leopards by a combined 20-1 in the squad's first two Patriot League victories of the season.
The Raiders racked up 16 hits across the two outings including four home runs, but it was Bailey Misken and Maya Servedio who stole the show in the circle. The pair combined to pitch 11 innings with eight strikeouts, two walks, and only one earned run.
"We have to give a lot of credit to our pitchers," head coach Marissa Lamison-Myers said. "We had a good plan and prepped hard all through this week, and it paid off with two wins."
Game 1 - Colgate 12, Lafayette 1
The Raiders jumped out to a comfortable lead early in game one courtesy of a five-run first frame. Herbst kicked off the scoring with a solo shot, her second of the season, while Colgate crossed the plate two more times after walks from Kara Fusco, Quinn Livesay and Elizabeth Nitka.
Nine-spot hitter Nora Megenity singled home the Raiders' fourth tally of the opening inning, and Rachel Carney reached base for the 17th straight game with a walk that scored the fifth and final run of the first.
In addition to the walk, the Raiders' standout shortstop added two hits, two RBIs, and accounted for a pair of runs in the win. Carney was one of four Raiders with multiple RBIs in addition to Herbst, Fusco and Livesay.
Misken picked up the first of her four strikeouts in a one-two-three second stanza and the Raiders stayed hot at the plate in the third with back-to-back two out RBI singles from Carney and Herbst.
With an eight-run cushion, Misken mowed down the Leopards with ease while the run parade continued for Colgate tacking on four runs across the fourth and fifth innings.
Misken finished her afternoon with one walk, four strikeouts, and only one earned run in five innings of work, inching to within 30 Ks of the program record held by Tara McGoff '99.
Game 2 - Colgate 8, Lafayette 0
Another monster first inning put the Raiders ahead by four runs after Adrienne Nardone drove home two runs with a double, and Livesay launched her fourth home run, tied for most on the team.
Carney cashed in with her first homer of the season in the following frame, while Maya Servedio did not allow a Leopard hit until the third stanza.
Both sides were hitless for the following two innings until Kiley Shelton singled in the top of the sixth. Adrienne Nardone and Livesay both found their way on base, leading to a three-run bomb from Niamh Dougherty to put the mercy rule into effect.
Servedio struck out the first batter in the bottom half of the inning before retiring the next two in order for her sixth win of the season and Colgate's second conference victory of the year.
UP NEXT
Colgate rounds out the series against Lafayette on Sunday at noon in Easton, Pa.
