Five-run first inning propels Lehigh to 8-1 win at Colgate in regular season finale

Sunday, May 3

Hamilton, N.Y.

12:00 PM

Lehigh University

36-7, 0

Colgate

16-19, 0

Lehigh

Colgate

Five-run first inning propels Lehigh to 8-1 win at Colgate in regular season finale

5/3/2015 2:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. – The first eight batters reached base as Lehigh scored five runs in the top of the first inning, which was more than enough as the Mountain Hawks completed their regular season with an 8-1 win over Colgate Sunday at Eaton Street Field.

Junior Alexis Watanabe went 3-for-5 at the plate while classmate Morgan Decker belted a three-run home run to pace the offense. Sophomore Christine Campbell had another strong start in the circle, allowing one unearned run on just two hits.

With Sunday's win, Lehigh finishes the regular season at 36-7 overall and 16-2 in the Patriot League. Colgate finishes at 16-19 overall and 9-9 in the league. The Raiders will be the No. 3 seed in the Patriot League Tournament.

In the first, freshman Nicole Yozzo drew a leadoff walk before Watanabe doubled to right center. Decker then drilled her fourth home run of the season down the right field line to give Lehigh a 3-0 lead. After a walk to sophomore Vicky Lattanzio and a double by junior Jessica Calvini, sophomore Cassie Waggy singled to right, scoring Lattanzio with Lehigh's fourth run. Two batters later, junior Carissa Zito singled home Calvini to cap the five-run inning.

Kira Griswold departed after Zito's hit without recording an out and Brigit Ieuter came on to get the three outs in the inning without any further damage.

Colgate scored its only run of the three-game series in the bottom of the first. Tara Grennan followed a one-out hit-by-pitch with the Raiders' first hit against Campbell, who tossed a five-inning no hitter on Saturday. Holly Geranen then reached on a fielder's choice and a throwing error by Watanabe allowed Gillian Murray to score to make it 5-1 Lehigh after one inning.

Ieuter kept the Mountain Hawks off the board through the next five innings as Lehigh couldn't capitalize on a bases loaded, one out situation in the third.

Lehigh finally broke through with three two-out runs off Ieuter in the seventh. With senior Emma Capetz on first, freshman Cassie Lajeunesse delivered a pinch hit double to center for her first career hit and run batted in. Yozzo then reached on a throwing error by Ieuter allowing Lajeunesse to score and Watanabe capped Lehigh's scoring with a RBI single that scored Yozzo from second.

Campbell improved to 16-2 on the season, allowing the one unearned run on two hits. He struck out four and walked three.

The Mountain Hawks will host the Patriot League Tournament beginning Thursday at Leadership Park. Lehigh will play No. 4 seed Army West Point in game one, beginning at noon, while Thursday's second game features No. 2 Bucknell and No. 3 Colgate at approximately 2:30 p.m.