ITHACA, N.Y. -- Colgate got back into the win column with a huge 7-6 victory against rival Cornell in 10 innings on Tuesday afternoon.
In a very back and forth game, both teams took their turns holding the lead. Colgate opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run by senior Tera Vaughn but Cornell answered with a run in the bottom half to knot the score. The Big Red took the go-ahead run in the fourth before Colgate pulled even in the sixth with a homer by Mariel Schlaefer.
Both teams recorded a run in the eighth and ninth pushing the game into double-figure innings. The Raiders registered three big runs in the top of the 10th thanks to a single by Alex Wilson and a two-run blast by Kate Zucker, giving them the 7-4 lead. Cornell would not go away as they notched two runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a one-run game. Strong defense by Colgate, however, ended any final Big Red attempts at tying the game.
Colgate (6-18) received a game-high performance from Schlaefer, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Katie Bushee added two hits, while Vaughn and Zucker earned home runs on the day.
Brigit Ieuter registered her fourth win of the season after pitching a complete game, allowing six runs with only two being earned.
Cornell (12-16) saw Jessica Bigbie go 4-for-4 on the day. Sophie Giaquinto added three hits on six at bats, with Jenny Edwards and Christina Villalon recorded two hits on six plate appearances as well.
Alyson Onyon dropped to 5-6 on the season in the circle for the Big Red after giving up seven hits and seven runs with five of them being earned. After a scoreless opening inning, Vaughn led off the top of the second with a solo home run to left center. The hit was her first homer of the season and ties her for 10th all-time in career RBI with 76.
The Big Red pulled even at 1-all in the bottom half of the inning. Cornell found itself with bases loaded in the third but Ieuter was able to pitch her way out of the jam to keep the game tied at 1-1. In the bottom of the fourth, the Big Red took the one-run edge after Meg Parker touched home.
Then with two outs in the top of the sixth, Schlaefer knocked in her second home run of the year hitting one over the center field fence to tie the score at 2-all. Neither team tallied the game-winning run forcing the contest into extra innings. Due to international rules both teams are awarded a runner on second base to start the inning. Both teams notched a run in the eighth and ninth, making for an exciting final inning.
In the top of the 10th, Tara Grennan, who started the inning on second, advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wilson followed that up with a single to reel in Grennan for the go-ahead run. On the ensuing play, Zucker blasted one over the center field fence to score two more Raider runs. Zucker's timely hit was just the second of her career.
Despite two runs from the Big Red in the bottom half, Colgate was able to stay strong defensively to hold on for the extra-innings victory. Colgate's solid play while out in the field forced Cornell to strand 18 base runners throughout the game.
