Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Colgate
Softball Team's Patriot League Playoff Hopes Ended with Doubleheader Sweep
4/29/2001 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 29, 2001
HAMILTON, N.Y. - The Bucknell softball team's hopes of competing in the Patriot League Tournament next weekend have been squelched with a doubleheader loss at Colgate on Sunday, April 29. The Red Raiders swept the Bison in the four-game series this weekend, winning 4-1 and 2-1 on Saturday and claiming today's games, 8-4 and 4-0. With the losses, BU falls to 17-26-2 overall and 8-12 in the Patriot League. Colgate improves to 27-23, 10-10 in the conference.
The Orange and Blue took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one. With one out, senior outfielder Stephanie Morgan (Allentown, Pa./Dieruff) doubled to left field. Junior first baseman Kelly Dugan (Mt. Holly, N.J./Rancocas Valley) reached on a fielder's choice and Morgan advanced to third, before senior third baseman Charity Ford (Cogan Station, Pa./Williamsport) reached on an error and Morgan scored. Following a Colgate pitching change, junior outfielder Jenna Demetriades (Nesquehoning, Pa./Tamaqua) hit a single to left field to load the bases. One out later, freshman Erin Doyle (Wayne, Pa./Upper Merion) singled through the right side, scoring Dugan, before freshman Jenna Fitch (Wayne, Pa./The Shipley School) reached on an error that allowed Ford to score. The Bison built the advantage to 4-0 in the top of the third when Demetriades led off the inning with a home run to left field.
The Red Raiders came back with five unearned runs in the third for a 5-4 lead. Laura Chaussee opened the inning reaching on an error. Rachel Smith tripled to right center to score Chaussee, and then scored herself when Melissa Rawson reached on another error. Amanda Paolucci drove in Rawson with a single, and moved to second on an error by the left fielder. Brickell followed with a double to score Paolucci, and Amanda Brickell scored the final run on Tina Scharf's sacrifice squeeze bunt.
The Red Raiders scored twice more in the fourth inning on Brickell's two-run double down the left field line, and added their final run in the sixth on Paolucci's RBI single.
Elena Isaac started for the Red Raiders, but was taken out after five batters after she had given up three runs. Laura Wygant (6-4) won the game pitching 2.2 innings, allowing three hits, one run, walking two and striking out one. Beth Haas, who picked up her second save of the season, replaced her in the fourth inning. Haas allowed two hits, no runs, walked one and struck out five.
In the nightcap, Haas (12-10) earned her third shutout of the season with a complete game effort against the Bison. She limited Bucknell to three hits, while walking none and striking out three.
Colgate scored its first run in the fourth inning on Brickell's single up the middle scoring Paolucci, who had doubled just ahead of her.
The Red Raiders put the contest away with three runs in the fifth on Stacy Mui's RBI double and Smith's single. Smith later scored on an infield single by Rawson.
Paolucci finished the doubleheader 5-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored, while Brickell was 4-for-7 with four RBI and one run scored. For Bucknell, Demetriades was a combined 3-for-6 with a homerun.
Bucknell will conclude its season with a home doubleheader against Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday, May 1, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
