Bucknell University
Rider
Bison Softball Earns Split with Visiting Rider
4/22/2004 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 22, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Senior Angela Stackhouse delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one, propelling the Bison softball team to a 2-1 win in the opener. The Orange and Blue could not take advantage of base runners in the nightcap, stranding 10 runners in a 2-0 loss to the Broncs. The non-conference doubleheader was played in a sporadic rainfall on Thursday, April 22.
Stackhouse went 3-for-4 in the first game, and continued an impressive day with a 2-for-4 performance in game two. Sophomore Lauren Wible was also solid in game one, going 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and a double.
The Orange and Blue got on the board first in the opening frame of the first game when Wible sent a ball to the right field warning track for a double that scored Stackhouse, who had reached with a two-out single through the left side.
The score remained 1-0 in Bucknell's favor until Rider finally got to pitcher Julie Williams in the fourth. Williams gave up back-to-back doubles to Maddy Boulden and Jamie Farley to tie the score 1-1 with Farley's shot to centerfield. The right-hander settled in, however, and retired the side with no more damage.
With the score still knotted entering the bottom of the seventh, the stage was set for Stackhouse's game-winning heroics. Junior Jill Pompeii led off the inning with a timely triple down the right field line. After relief pitcher Devin Karcesky, who entered in the fourth, nearly got out of the frame with two groundouts, Stackhouse got a pitch she liked and drove it up the middle for Pompeii to come across the plate standing up.
Williams had a solid game on the mound, scattering seven hits over seven innings and only allowing three Rider batters past second in the contest. The Broncs' starter, Boulden, lasted three innings, giving up four hits and one run, while Karcesky took the loss, giving up five hits in 3.2 innings.
Game two was nearly as intense as the first, also coming down to the final at bat.
Bucknell pitcher Lisa Vacarro allowed just five base runners in the game, but two of those were solo homeruns to Rider batters, accounting for the visitors two runs in the contest.
The Broncs got their first run of the game on Amanda Tu's third inning homerun to left field. Vaccaro faced the minimum through the first 2.2 innings before giving up the two-out blast. The rookie did not give up another hit until Nichole Mears and Jill Carrabus led off the fifth with back-to-back singles, but Vaccaro got out of the frame unscathed with two pop-ups sandwiched around a strikeout.
The Bison loaded the bases in both the fourth and fifth innings, but Rider pitcher Heather Beintema induced Bucknell batters to strike out swinging to end both threats. Beintema struck out the side in the sixth to keep the Orange and Blue from threatening three innings in a row.
Vacarro then gave up a leadoff homerun to Kristin Kenavan before getting the next three batters out to put the host team in a 2-0 hole entering its final at bats.
Beintema showed why she owns a 0.73 earned run average on the season by getting out of another jam in the seventh. The sophomore struck out Pompeii to open the frame, before issuing two-straight walks to Kristen Potts and Jen James to make things interesting with the heart of the lineup anxiously awaiting their at-bat. Stackhouse stepped in and hit a ball hard to Boulden at short stop, but the utility player alertly made the play at third for the force and two outs. Beintema earned her 13th win of the season when she struck out Bucknell's clean-up hitter, Lauren Wible, to preserve the 2-0 victory.
Vacarro went all seven innings, giving up just four hits and striking out three. Beintema also went the distance and allowed four hits, while striking out 14 Bison batters.
Bucknell is 9-23 overall. The Orange and Blue host Holy Cross for a critical four-game series against the Crusaders on Saturday and Sunday, April 24-25. BU must win three of four games against HC to make the Patriot League playoffs. Rider is 23-12 overall.
