Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Softball Splits a Pair at Lafayette
4/13/2002 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 13, 2002
EASTON, Pa. - Bucknell softball pitcher Brandi Porter struck out a school record 17 batters in game one of a doubleheader at Lafayette on Saturday, April 13. Despite the outstanding performance by the junior hurler, the Bison came up short in a 4-3 decision in 12 innings. The Orange and Blue responded with an 8-5 victory over the Leopards in the nightcap.
Both pitchers were engaged in a dual through the first three innings, with Lafayette's Jackie Fitzgerald surrendering the only hit of the game. The Leopards threatened in their half of the fourth when Danielle Bernotsky opened the inning with a single to right field, but was promptly caught stealing for the first out of the inning. Liz Lucisano followed with a double to center field, but Porter struck out the final two batters to get out of the frame.
The Bison finally got to Fitzgerald in the top of the sixth when freshman Jenny Ross singled to center field to open the inning. Senior Kelly Dugan advanced Courtney Dohoney, who entered the game as a pinch runner, to second with a sacrifice bunt, before sophomore Angela Stackhouse clubbed her second homerun of the season to give Bucknell a 2-0 lead.
The Leopards were down to their last three outs in the bottom of the seventh when Kelly Wise delivered a leadoff singles through the left side. Abby Weichert pinch ran for Wise before Mara Shainheit drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Pinch hitter Leigh Minarick promptly sacrificed the runners to second and third, before Megan Longo delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to score both runners and send the game into extra innings.
Neither team could manage to score through the 11th inning, but it was the Orange and Blue who struck first in the top of the 12th, scoring one run on Dohoney's double to left field. The Leopards had the final say, however, crossing the plate twice in the bottom of the frame to win it 4-3.
Porter's 17 strikeouts is a school record and fall just four shy of an NCAA mark.
In the nightcap, junior Lauren Box gave up 12 hits to Lafayette, but a four run fifth and a three run sixth by the Bison offense propelled the team to an 8-5 win.
The Leopards took the early lead, scoring one run in both the second and third innings for a 2-0 lead. Bucknell cut into the lead in the top of the fourth, plating one run on two hits. Stackhouse singled to center field with one out, advanced to second on Ross' ground out to third base, and scored on sophomore Erin Doyle's single to right field.
The Bison bats came alive in the top of the fifth, pounding out five hits in the inning and scoring four runs. With runners on the corners, senior Jenna Demetriades doubled to center field to score both runners for the first two runs of the inning. Stackhouse followed with a double to the same spot, scoring Demetriades. Ross completed the four-run inning with a single to center field to plate Stackhouse and give Bucknell a 5-2 lead.
Lafayette struck in their half of the inning, scoring once to make it 5-3. The Orange and Blue pushed the advantage back to 8-3 with a three-run sixth inning. Junior Meredith Gill opened the inning with a double to center field. Titus followed with a walk, before senior Barb Wood sacrifice them to second and third. With two outs, Demetriades stepped in and delivered her second double of the night through the right side, plating Gill and Titus. The centerfielder then stole third and scored on an error by the catcher to end the scoring.
The Leopards again made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, scoring twice before finally yielding to the Bison. Down to the final out, Shainheit started the rally with a single. Diane Mitchell followed with a single to right field to put runners on first and second. Shainheit then stole third and Mitchell advanced to second, before Erin Allison delivered single to right field to score the runners. Box got Samantha Lucas to ground out the second base to end the threat, and the game, in Bucknell's favor, 8-5.
Demetriades and Stackhouse were both 2-for-4 in the contest. Both of Demetriades' hits were doubles, while the senior collected four RBI.
Bucknell improves to 8-22 overall and 2-8 in the Patriot League. The Bison finish a four-game series with Lafayette in a doubleheader on Sunday, April 14, beginning at 12:00 noon.
