Lehigh Battles Back For Game Two Win To Split Doubleheader With Colgate

Saturday, April 30

Bethlehem, Pa.

12:00 PM

Lehigh University

22-16-1, 11-2

Colgate

18-22, 7-6

Colgate

Lehigh

Photo by: Morgan Weindel

Lehigh Battles Back For Game Two Win To Split Doubleheader With Colgate

4/30/2022 5:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Watch Sunday on ESPN+

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team battled back from a tough 7-4 loss in game one to defeat Colgate 9-1 in five innings, earning a split of Saturday's doubleheader at Leadership Park. Senior Carley Barjaktarovich went 6-for-7 with three runs scored across the two games, while junior Emily Cimino had two doubles and four RBIs in the game two victory.

Saturday's split leaves Lehigh at 23-16-1 overall and 12-2 in Patriot League play.

Barjaktarovich and Cimino combined to go 5-for-6 with four runs scored and five RBIs in the nightcap. With the game scoreless in the bottom of the third, Lehigh loaded the bases with no outs and Cimino cleared the bases with a three-run double to center. Senior Jaelynn Chesson reached on a dropped fly ball to right field and classmate Addie Kittel followed with a three-run home run out to left, her seventh of the season, to double Lehigh's lead to 6-0 after three innings of play.

Colgate (18-23, 8-6 PL) pulled a run back in the fourth on Adrienne Nardone's second home run of the day, but the Mountain Hawks responded with three runs in the home fourth inning. Junior Josie Charles led off with a hustle double down the left field line and took third on a wild pitch. Barjaktarovich singled home Charles with Lehigh's seventh run and then Cimino's second RBI double of the game brought Barjaktarovich home. Senior Karsen O'Rourke capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

Sophomore Katelyn Young worked around a leadoff single in the fifth to keep the Raiders off the scoreboard and end the game. She allowed a run on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts to improve to 14-5 on the season.

Kaitlyn Borruso took the loss for Colgate, allowing six runs on five hits over 2.2 innings.

Game one saw the Mountain Hawks fall behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning on a two-run home run by Nardone. Bailey Misken kept the Mountain Hawks at bay through the first five innings before Lehigh broke through with two outs in the sixth. Kittel singled with two outs and first-year Rory Dudley reached on an error to keep the inning going. Back-to-back bloop singles by sophomore Brooke Cannon and O'Rourke tied the game at 2-2 after six.

Colgate regained the lead with five runs in the top of the seventh. A leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt put the go-ahead run at second with one out. The Raiders followed with five consecutive hits, the last four of which brought home runs. Jillian Herbst's single brought home the go-ahead run, while Nardone capped the inning with a two-run triple to center. Nardone finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs in game one.

Lehigh threatened in the seventh, plating two runs on a one-out, two-RBI single by senior Jaelynn Chesson, but Misken got Kittel to ground into a game-ending double play.

Barjaktarovich was 3-for-4 with in game one, while Kittel added two hits. Lehigh out-hit Colgate 10-9 in the opener.

Senior Gabriella Nori started in the circle and took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits in seven innings with two walks and six strikeouts. Young allowed two runs in relief in the seventh inning.

Lehigh and Colgate will wrap-up their series with a single game Sunday at Leadership Park. The Mountain Hawks will honor their six-member senior class prior to the noon start. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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