Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bucknell Softball Splits a Pair of Shutouts with Holy Cross
4/6/2002 7:00:00 AM | Softball
April 6, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell softball team hosted Patriot League rival for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 6, coming away with a split in two shutout decisions. The Bison dropped an 8-0 game in five innings in the opener, before junior pitcher Brandi Porter threw a one-hitter in a 1-0 nightcap victory for the Orange and Blue.
BU got off to a rocky start in the first game of the day, allowing three runs in the top of the first to find itself in the early hole. Mary Beth Ryan and Alysa Hayden opened the game with back-to-back triples to put a run on the board before the Bison could even register an out. A Melissa Beshire groundout to second score Hayden to make it 2-0, and the Crusaders capitalized on a Bucknell error to tally once more in the inning.
After sitting the Bison down in the order in the first two innings, the Crusaders struck again in the third, this time for five runs. With two outs and one on, Holy Cross pitcher Nikki Vitti helped her own cause by blooping a change-up into left center field to score the runner. Courtney Dougherty and Ryan followed with infield singles to load the bases for Hayden. Hayden doubled to right center, and ended up scoring on the play, which included two Bucknell errors. With the bases empty, Beshire drew a two-out walk before the Bison finally got out of the inning on a runner's interference at second base. The damage was done, however, with the score now 8-0 in the third.
Holy Cross would only muster two more hits the rest of the game, but Vitti held the Orange and Blue to just two the entire game, carrying a no-hitter into the fourth inning. Senior Kelly Dugan broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out double to right center, but the Bison could not advance her to get on the board. Sophomore Jenna Fitch recorded Bucknell's only other hit of the day, singling to open the fifth inning. BU would move a runner to third in the frame, struggling to keep the game from ending via the mercy rule, but Vitti got two ground outs to end the contest and come away with the 8-0 win.
Hayden and Dougherty were both 2-for-2 in the contest, while Ryan and Jean Connolly ended the game 2-for-3 from the plate.
The nightcap turned out to be a pitchers duel, with Bison hurler Brandi Porter coming out on top of a 1-0 decision. Holy Cross pitcher Christine Palmeri started the game strong, striking out six of Bucknell's first seven batters. The Orange and Blue finally got to the right-hander in the third inning when sophomore Erin Doyle led off the frame with a single up the middle. Doyle advanced to second on sophomore Kristen Potts' foul out to the catcher, and then moved to third when junior Meredith Gill delivered a single to left field. Senior Lauren Titus promptly singled through the right side to score Doyle for what would prove to be the winning run.
Porter gave up her only hit of the contest in the fourth inning. After two quick outs, Liz Curll stepped in a slapped the first pitch through the left side for a single. Bucknell got out of the inning on the next batter with a diving play by Gill at shortstop to force Curll out at second.
Porter ended the contest strong, keeping her first career one-hitter intact with a solid performance in the seventh. She struck out the first batter of the inning before getting Christine Clark to ground out to third. Porter struck Alycia Fitzpatick out for what appeared to be the final out, but the batter ended up reaching first on a passed ball to keep the inning alive. The right-hander ended the game on the next batter with a called third strike.
In addition to allowing just one hit, Porter recorded her third nine-strikeout performance of the year. Palmeri pitched a complete game for Holy Cross, scattering four hits and striking 10.
Bucknell moves to 7-17 overall and picks up its first Patriot League win to improve to 1-5 in conference play. The Crusaders stand at 5-16 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The two teams will square off on Sunday for the second doubleheader of the four-game series with a 12:00 p.m. opening pitch.
Game 1
Holy Cross 305 00 - 8-12-1
Bucknell 000 00 - 0-2-3
Vitti and Fitzpatrick, Box and Fitch. WP - Vitti (2-5), LP - Box (2-5). RBI - HC: Hayden (3),
Beshire, Connolly, Vitti. 2B - HC: Hayden, B: Dugan. 3B - HC: Ryan, Haden.
Game 2
Holy Cross 000 000 0 - 0-1-0
Bucknell 001 000 x - 1-4-1
Palmeri and Fitzpatrick, Porter and Stackhouse. WP - Porter (3-7), LP - Palmeri (1-3). RBI -
B: Titus. 2B - B: Stackhouse.
Team Records: Holy Cross 5-16 (2-4 Patriot League). Bucknell 7-17 (1-5 Patriot League).
