Bucknell University
Army *
Bucknell Softball Earns Split with Army on First Day of Four-Game Series
4/17/2004 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 17, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell softball team snapped a 13-game losing streak with a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Army in the second game of a Saturday doubleheader. The Bison dropped a 12-3 first game to the Black Knights, who won their 10th-straight in the opener.
Junior centerfielder Jill Pompeii was an impressive 4-for-6 on the day, including a 2-for-3 performance in the BU victory. Freshman rightfielder Jen James also had a solid afternoon, going 3-for-6 in two games, while classmate Michelle Danish was 3-for-4 in the second game.
Bucknell struggled to convert its scoring opportunities in the first game, stranding nine runners in the contest. Bison ace righthander Kelli Haskins also had an off day on the mound, giving up 15 Army hits and eight earned runs.
The Black Knights struck first in the top of the second inning, scoring one run on one hit and two Bucknell errors. The Orange and Blue wasted little time turning the 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the same inning. Army helped the squad out with two errors of its own in the frame, and freshman Lauren Litts, Pompeii and senior Kristen Potts each recorded a hit in the inning to help BU take the lead.
After getting one back in the top of the third, the Army offense really came alive and the visiting team scored at least two runs in each of the final four innings. A three-run fourth and a four-run sixth helped to put the game out of reach for the Bison, who could not manage to get another runner across the plate. Bucknell loaded the base in both the fifth and sixth innings, but came up empty both times.
Leigh Harrell got the win for the Black Knights, pitching six innings and surrendering eight hits. Julie Evans pitched one inning in relief, allowing one hit.
Things looked bleak again in the second game, as Army produced three runs on three hits in the first inning to take an early 3-0 lead. Bison pitcher Julie Williams settled in after that inning, however, going the next 5.2 without allowing a hit, and the offense finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 3-3.
Senior Jenna Fitch led off the inning with her second homerun of the season, and Danish and Pompeii followed with singles, chasing Army starter Ashlie Christian who allowed six hits in three innings. Chris Stauffer entered the game, and the Bison promptly took advantage of a wild pitch by the freshman, scoring their second run of the inning. James followed with an RBI single to left center to tie the game.
After Army went back ahead on a Bucknell wild pitch in the top of the fifth, BU got back to business at the plate, scoring three runs in its half of the frame to take the lead for the first time. Stauffer recorded just one out in the inning before giving way to Harrell. Danish greeted Harrell with a single back to the pitcher to load the bases. Bucknell's first run came across the plate when Army shortstop Lauren Gobar elected to go home on a ball hit by Pompeii, but catcher Jamie Gjurgevich could not hang on to the ball as pinch runner Megan Good crossed the plate. Another error in the inning allowed Pompeii and freshman Meghan Feller to score, giving the Bison a 6-4 lead.
As the game of cat-and-mouse continued, Army came right back and tied it in the top of the sixth. The Black Knights finally got to Williams again, recording four hits in the inning and scoring twice. The outcome could have been worse, but the Orange and Blue alertly caught Gjurgevich trying to steal home for the third out of the inning.
The Bison got the one run they needed in the bottom of the sixth, when Litts, who had reached on a fielder's choice, scored on Harrell's wild pitch with two outs. Williams sat Army down in order in the top of the seventh to earn the 7-6 win. The victory also snapped a nine-game conference losing streak, and was the squad's first win at home this year.
Bucknell is 8-20 overall and 4-10 in the Patriot League. With Holy Cross' two losses at Lehigh this afternoon, the Orange and Blue remain in the hunt for a playoff spot in the four-team tournament, with six league games remaining. Army is 17-17 overall and 10-4 in league play. The two teams will meet again tomorrow for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
