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Box Score 2 EASTON, Pa. – Francesca D'Amato (Lyndhurst, N.J./Immaculate Conception) smacked a two-run double in the fifth inning to and hurler Erica Colon (Fairview, N.J./High Tech) allowed one run to power the Saint Peter's softball team to a 3-1 win against Lafayette in the nightcap of a non-conference softball doubleheader on Wednesday. The Leopards (9-30) won the opener, 5-0.
D'Amato went 2-for-4 in the second game, including a two-run double in the fifth inning to break a scoreless standstill and help the Peacocks earn the twinbill split with Lafayette for the sixth-consecutive season. Colon allowed one run on four hits with three strikeouts in a complete-game effort for her third win of the year.
Lee Harrison (Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado) added three hits and a run scored for Saint Peter's in the two games while Shelby Beaver (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) also had three hits on the afternoon and Maria Maresca (Paramus, N.J./Paramus Catholic) posted a hit and a run scored in the nightcap.
Melissa Robinson paced the Leopards with three hits and two runs scored and tossed a complete-game three-hit shutout in the opener with five strikeouts. Jordan Parsons added two hits, two runs scored and an RBI while Victoria Vergona registered two hits, a run scored and an RBI on the day.
After dropping the opener, the Peacocks used a strong pitching performance from Colon to help earn the split with Lafayette.
Maresa started a two-run fifth with a double to left center with one out. Stephanie Gilronan (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) reached on an infield single and Harrison walked to load the bases for D'Amato. The sophomore doubled to bring home Maresca and Gilronan for a 2-0 edge.
Harrison and D'Amato reached on consecutive singles in the seventh before Harrison touched home on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 3-0.
The Leopards answered with a run in the seventh when Parsons touched home on a wild pitch, but Saint Peter's came away with the 3-1 victory.
Colon retired the first 10 batters she faced in the nightcap before getting in a jam in the fourth. Bryn Gornick broke up the no-hitter with a single through the right side with one out in the fourth. Robinson put runners on the corners with a single to right. Lafayette then tried to get on the scoreboard with a double steal, but catcher Sierra Parker (Chino Hills, Calif./Caldwell College) and shortstop D'Amato were able to gun down Gornick trying to score from third to keep the game scoreless with the second out. Vergona followed with an infield single before Colon ended the jam with a fly out to right.
Colon then retired seven of the next eight batters and gave up a run in the seventh, but Saint Peter's came away with the 3-1 win.
In the opener, Lafayette scored four times in the third and once in the fifth to earn a 5-0 victory.
Vergona got the scoring started in the third with an RBI single to right center while a second run crossed the plate courtesy of an error on the play. After Parsons plated a run with a single down the right field line, the Leopards picked up their fourth run of the stanza on an error for a 4-0 lead. Allison Brown sealed the victory with an RBI double in the fifth for a 5-0 victory.
Saint Peter's had a couple of chances in the game, but could not push a run across in the opener. Harrison smacked her team-leading 12th double of the season to open the fourth, but a groundout and a pair of strikeouts ended the threat. In the fifth, Beaver opened the frame with a single up the middle, but was erased on Amber Velasquez's (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) fielder's choice. The freshman moved to third when Michelle Tinajero (Elmwood Park, Ill./Elmwood Park) reached on a fielder's choice and error. A sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position, but a pop up ended the inning.
The Peacocks return to action at Niagara on Saturday, First pitch is 12 p.m.
