PHILADELPHIA – La Salle used the long ball to defeat Lafayette, 7-2, in the opening game of a doubleheader on Wednesday at West Campus Field, but the bats fell silent in a 5-1 loss in the night cap.

Junior Christina Bascara had two hits, including a home run, and knocked in four runs this afternoon. Classmate Michelle Hagarty had a three-hit day, including a two-run homer, and senior Kendra Heyer added a pair of singles.

Game 1

Lafayette got on the board with a run in the first and held the lead until the third. With two outs, freshman Emma Schweigert singled and Hagarty singled to bring up Bascara, who laced a home run to centerfield to give the Explorers the 3-1 lead. It was the second homer of the season for Bascara and the 11^th of her career, moving her into a tie for tenth on the all-time list.

The two-out rally continued as junior Lindsay Gaines was hit by a pitch and sophomore Valerie Pineiro singled. Senior Erica Reis followed with a two-run double in the gap to make the score 5-1.
The Leopards (8-21) would add a run in the fourth off winning pitcher Mary Cate Scott (7-3). But in the sixth, Hagarty hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season, a two-out, two-run shot that gave La Salle some insurance. The six home runs are tied third most in the Atlantic 10.

She now has 21 home runs for her career and is approaching Megan Hodgson's record of 27.

Scott picked up her seventh win of the season, and 30^th of her career, by throwing the complete game. She moves into a tie for sixth on the career victories list. Scott scattered 11 hits, but only gave up one earned run. She struck out four and walked just one.

Samantha Sweigart and Jenna Orlando each had two hits for Lafayette. Krysten Marinelli suffered the loss after allowing five earned runs in five innings.

Game 2

La Salle (9-17) scored in the bottom of the first inning on a Bascara sacrifice fly, but was unable to take advantage of the bases loaded and no one out. It turned out to be the only run the Explorers would score off Stacy Gordon, who went the distance, allowing one earned run and scattering six hits.

The Blue and Gold lead lasted until an eventful fourth, when Lafayette put a three-spot on the board to chase freshman Marlo Roadcap (0-7). The Leopards added two more in the fifth.

Roadcap allowed two earned runs in three innings and struck out three. Sophomore McKenzie Peace pitched three innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one hit, to finish the game.

La Salle continues its 11-game homestand with a three-game Atlantic 10 series with St. Bonaventure beginning on Saturday at noon.