Bucknell University
Colgate *
Bison Softball Drops Two to Colgate, 4-2 and 10-4
4/3/2004 7:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell softball team was in a good position to take both games of a doubleheader from defending Patriot League champion Colgate, but a comeback bid fell just short in a 4-2 first game loss, and an eight-run Raiders seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie to give Colgate a 10-4 win in the nightcap.
While Bucknell baseball pitcher Matt Daley was completing a no-hitter on Gene Depew Field, Colgate's Elena Isaac was tossing a gem of her own on the West Field. Isaac carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, facing the minimum number of batters through the first 13 outs. Sophomore Kris Devore finally got to the right-hander, delivering a double to leftfield to break up the no-hitter and get BU's first baserunner.
Isaac got out of that inning unscathed, but the Bison got to her again in the sixth. Junior Jill Pompeii hit a one-out single up the middle, advanced to second when freshman Katherine Heatley drew a two-out walk, and scored on senior Angela Stackhouse's RBI single to left centerfield. The run was the first earned run allowed by Isaac in 18 innings. The Orange and Blue added another when sophomore Lauren Wible singled to second, plating Heatley to get BU within 4-2.
Bucknell's threat was ended when Devore cracked her second-straight hit, a shot up the middle that Isaac deflected. The pitcher recovered in time to catch pinch-runner Megan Good leaning after rounding third for the final out of the inning. Kate Howard pitched a perfect seventh inning to pick up her second save of the season.
The Raiders collected five of their seven hits in the game in the first three innings, building a 2-0 lead. One of those runs came when Isaac helped herself with the first homerun of her career in the third. The visitors made it 3-0 when Dorothy Donaldson opened the fourth with a walk, advanced to third on a Bucknell error, and scored on Erin Hanna's groundout to shortstop. Colgate's final run came in the form of another homerun, this one from Natalie Rawson in the top of the fifth.
Junior Kelli Haskins (4-5), who allowed just two hits in the final four innings, took the loss for the Bison. Haskins walked three and struck out three in seven innings. Isaac improved to 11-2 on the year with her five hit performance.
The nightcap started much differently for the Orange and Blue. After sophomore pitcher Julie Williams sat the Raiders down in order in the top of the first, senior Kristen Potts opened the Bucknell half of the frame with a walk. Potts was sacrificed to second and then moved to third on a wild pitch before Stackhouse hit a deep fly ball to left field to score Potts for the 1-0 lead.
Colgate got that run back in the second on Hanna's RBI single to left center that scored Donaldson, a baserunner by way of a single to centerfield.
BU answered in its half of the second when freshman Lauren Litts ripped a ball over the right centerfield fence for her second round tripper of the year. The Raiders again responded with a run in the top of the fourth. Kim Olmstead doubled with one out, and then she and Danielle Soule switched places with Soule's two-bagger to right centerfield.
The teams carried the 2-2 tie into the top of the seventh, and that's when Colgate put the game out of reach. The Raiders collected six hits in the frame, including five consecutive with two outs, while scoring eight runs to blow the game open. Hanna, who was 3-for-4 in the game, had two of her hits in the frame.
The Bison made things interesting in their final at-bat. Senior Jenna Fitch doubled to left field and Pompeii drew a walk to put runners on first and second. One out later, sophomore Ashley Sarnecky walked to load the bases for Stackhouse. The catcher delivered with a shot right back up the middle that deflected off Howard's glove and landed near third. Pompeii scored on the single, and Potts made it 10-4 when she touched home on a Colgate throwing error on the play.
Howard (6-4) recovered to get sophomore Lauren Wible to pop out to second to end the game. Williams (2-3) allowed 11 hits and 10 runs in seven innings.
Bucknell is 7-9 overall and 3-3 in Patriot League play. The Bison conclude a four-game series with Colgate (23-7, 5-1 PL) with a doubleheader beginning at noon on Sunday, April 4.
