Bucknell University
Towson
Errors Plague Bison in Losses to Towson in Non-Conference Action
4/7/2004 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell softball team committed six errors in two games, and stranded 21 runners in the doubleheader, allowing Towson to leave Lewisburg with the sweep in a 7-6 opener and a 7-2 nightcap. The Orange and Blue outhit the Tigers, 11-9, in the first game, and trailed just 9-8 in hits in the finale.
Sophomore Lauren Wible was 4-for-7 at the plate on the day, including one double and an RBI. Senior Jenna Fitch and freshman Michelle Danish were both 3-for-7 with Fitch recording a double and three RBI, while Danish had one run batted in.
Bucknell struck first in the opener when senior Angela Stackhouse drew a two-out walk, one of four walks the power hitter had on the day, to put a runner on first. Wible followed with her two-bagger to left centerfield, scoring Stackhouse.
Towson showed its offensive potential in the second, collecting four hits and taking advantage of one of BU's miscues to take a 3-1 lead. The Bison came right back and tied the contest in the bottom of the inning. After Jen James reached on a fielder's choice and senior Kristen Potts singled to left field, freshman Lauren Litts stepped in for a pinch-hit appearance, sending a ball to the right centerfield fence for a two-RBI double.
The Tigers got those two back in the top of the third, and tacked on one more in each of the sixth and seventh innings to carry a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Bucknell made things interesting in its final at bat.
Freshman Meghan Feller led off the inning with a walk. Stackhouse followed with a single to shortstop, and Wible drew another walk to load the bases. Tigers pitcher Jillian Kiley nearly got out of the jam with two-straight outs, but Danish delivered a two-out single up the middle to plate Feller. Fitch followed with a double to bring in Stackhouse and Wible and make it 7-6, before Towson switched pitchers.
Jessica Wides proceeded to strike out the final batter to end the threat and the game. Kiley, the winner in relief, pitched 4.2 innings, giving up seven hits and allowing three runs. Beth Wilcox started the game, pitching two innings, allowing four hits and three runs.
Kelli Haskins was on the mound for Bucknell, scattering nine hits over seven innings, and allowing four earned runs while striking out three.
In the nightcap, the Bison found themselves in a 4-0 hole after just one inning of play. The Tigers jumped on BU pitcher Julie Williams, collecting four hits and scoring three times in their half of the first. The sophomore righthander settled in, however, allowing just one runner past second until the seventh inning.
The Orange and Blue offense struggled with runners in scoring position against Towson's Kristen Morgan. Morgan gave up seven hits in 5.1 innings of work, but Bucknell stranded a total of 13 runners in the game, nine of those against Morgan.
BU touched Morgan for two runs in the bottom of the fifth when the righthander walked two runs in on consecutive batters. She sat Danish down swinging to get out of the frame with no further damage.
The Bison loaded the bases again in the bottom of the sixth, chasing Morgan in exchange for Wides. Wides entered the game with the bases loaded and one out against the heart of Bucknell's lineup. The closer induced both Litts and Wible into swinging at the third strike to get out of the jam with a 5-2 lead intact.
Two errors and two hits in the top of the seventh staked Towson to a 7-2 lead, and then Wides struck out the first two batters of Bucknell's half of the inning before allowing a single to Danish. Sophomore Ashley Sarnecky then hit a fly ball to rightfield to end the game.
Williams gave up nine hits and six earned runs while striking out two.
Bucknell is 7-13 overall and faces Patriot League rival Lehigh this weekend for a four-game series. The first doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Towson is 20-19 overall.
