SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Colgate knocked off NC A&T, 8-4, for the second time in as many days before succumbing to a late rally in a 9-5 decision at USC Upstate in Saturday's doubleheader at Cyrill Stadium. 

Senior Quinn Livesay paced the offense with two hits and four runs scored, including a home run, in the doubleheader. First-year Lily Haluska also belted her first-career homer as part of a two-hit day, while senior Amanda DeSantis racked up three RBIs in a bases-clearing double during the victory over NC A&T. 

Game 1 | Colgate 8, NC A&T 4

After falling behind in both games on Friday, Colgate jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first on Saturday. Livesay roped a double down the left field line and came around to score on a two-out single to center by junior Alexa Acker to give the Raiders a 1-0 advantage. 

Junior Maya Servedio was strong in the circle and the Raiders went back to work in the top of the fifth. Senior Jillian Herbst singled up the middle before Livesay was hit by a pitch and Haluska walked. DeSantis brought everyone home with a bases-clearing double to stretch the lead to 4-0. 

The Raiders blew the game open with three runs on three hits in the sixth. Senior Claire Whalen opened the inning with a single and later scored on a fielder's choice before Haluska worked a bases-loaded walk. Acker lofted a sacrifice fly to score Livesay and Colgate built a 7-1 lead. 

NC A&T got to Servedio in the home half of the sixth, cutting the Colgate lead to 7-4 thanks to a two-run homer. First-year Mikala Ham entered the circle in relief and shut the door, retiring all five batters she faced. She struck out the side in the seventh to preserve the 8-4 victory. 

Game 2 | USC Upstate 9, Colgate 5

For the second straight game Colgate jumped out to an early lead with RBIs from Haluska and Acker giving the Raiders a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. USC Upstate countered with a pair in the home half of the first, and then added three in the second to build a 5-2 advantage. 

Colgate fought back to tie the game with two swings of the bat in the top of the third. Livesay blasted a two-run homer to left center before Haluska went back-to-back, drilling a solo shot over the wall in center to draw even 5-5 through three frames. 

A go-ahead solo homer from Denver Lauer gave USC Upstate the lead for good in the fourth. The Spartans added three runs in the sixth and held on to take the nightcap, 9-5. 

Haluska led the Raiders with two hits and two RBIs, while Livesay and Acker each scored twice. Acker shouldered the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits through three innings. Ham fired three innings of relief, conceding four runs (one earned) on five hits with three strikeouts. 

Up Next
Colgate (2-7) closes out the weekend in Spartanburg with an 11 a.m. first pitch against Eastern Kentucky on Sunday morning at Hope Field.