Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bucknell Softball Swept By Holy Cross
4/7/2002 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell softball team committed nine errors in two games on Sunday afternoon, while struggling offensively to score any runs, and in the process dropped a doubleheader to visiting Patriot League rival Holy Cross. The Bison fell 6-3 in the opener and lost a 1-0 decision in the nightcap.
In the opener, Holy Cross struck first, scoring two runs in the top of the second. Liz Curll started the inning with a double to left centerfield. Christine Clark stepped in as the very next batter and clubbed a double to right centerfield to push one run across. Two outs later, a Bucknell miscue on Nikki Vitti's shot to shortstop allowed another run to come across for the 2-0 Crusader lead.
The Bison defense held Holy Cross in check for the next two innings, but the Crusaders took advantage of three Bucknell errors in the top of the fifth, scoring four times in the frame. Caitlyn McCarthy reached on an error to open the inning and Mary Beth Ryan followed with a sacrifice bunt to move McCarthy to second. Back-to-back miscues by the Orange and Blue allowed one run to score, before Curll was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Bison pitcher Kelli Haskins got Clark to pop up to first base for the second out of the inning, but Alycia Fitzpatrick stepped in and knocked a double into left centerfield for three RBI, before getting thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.
Bucknell responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run on two hits and one Holy Cross error in the inning. Senior Barb Wood delivered a one out, pinch hit single up the middle and freshman Jenny Ross followed with her own one-baser up the middle. Junior Meredith Gill slapped a ball to the shortstop, who then overthrew third trying to get Wood on the force. Wood scored on the play to get the Bison on the scoreboard. Vitti got out of the jam with a ground out and a line drive to end the inning.
The Orange and Blue closed the gap again in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomores Erin Doyle and Jenna Fitch both reached base on fielding errors by the Crusaders, and stood on second and third after a passed ball. Senior Jenna Demetriades followed with a triple to right field to score Doyle and Fitch and get BU within three, 6-3. The rally was short lived, however, as Holy Cross got the next two batters out to end the inning, and Vitti sat the Bison down in order in the seventh to preserve the win.
Demetriades finished the contest 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Haskins tossed all seven innings, scattering six hits, striking out five and walking none.
In the nightcap, it was Holy Cross which came out on top of a 1-0 decision. Bucknell's Brandi Porter and the Crusaders' Christine Palmeri engaged in another pitcher's duel, each surrendering five hits over seven innings. Palmeri took the win on the mound, striking out eight and walking none. Porter was the hard luck loser, striking out six and walking two in her follow up performance after her first career one-hitter yesterday.
The only run of the game came in Holy Cross' half of the third inning. Ryan reached base on a fielding error, was sacrificed to second, and later scored on Curll's single to right field.
Bucknell's best chance came in the bottom of the sixth when senior Lauren Titus led off the inning with a single up the middle. Wood reached base safely on a fielder's choice, and Titus was safe at second on a Crusader error. One out later, Demetriades loaded the bases on another Holy Cross miscue, but Palmeri struck out sophomore Angela Stackhouse and got Doyle to ground out to the shortstop to get out of the inning with no damage.
The losses drop Bucknell to 7-19 overall and 1-7 in Patriot League play. The Bison travel to Villanova on Tuesday, April 9, for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader with the Wildcats.
Game 1
Holy Cross 020 040 0 - 6-6-3 Bucknell 000 012 0 - 3-6-6Vitti and Fitzpatrick, Haskins and Stackhouse. WP - Vitti (3-5). LP - Haskins (2-6). RBI - H:
Fitzpatrick (3), Clark, B: Demetriades (2). 2B - H: Curll, Clark, Fitzpatrick. 3B - H:
Ryan, B: Demetriades.
Game 2
Holy Cross 001 000 0 - 1-5-3 Bucknell 000 000 0 - 0-5-3Palmeri and Fitzpatrick, Porter and Fitch. WP - Palmeri (2-3). LP - Porter (3-8). RBI - H:
Curll.
