Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
George Mason
Bucknell Softball Splits Pair on Second Day of Rebel Spring Games
3/14/2005 7:00:00 AM | Softball
March 14, 2005
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Bucknell softball team sent nine hitters to the plate in a three-run fourth inning as it defeated Cleveland State 4-3 in its second game of the day Monday at the Rebel Spring Games. The Bison fell to George Mason 1-0 earlier in the day.
Bucknell (2-2), had scored just two runs in its first three games before its outburst against Cleveland State. The Bison plated one run in the first inning when Jill Pompeii led off the game with a single. She then advanced to second on a ground out by Jennifer James. After she moved to third on a wild pitch she scored on a single to center field by Kris Devore.
Cleveland State evened the score in the top of the fourth when it touched freshman Christie Wiest for a run. After pitching an eight-inning shutout in her first career start Sunday, Wiest did not allow a run through the first 3 2/3 innings.
Bucknell's three-run fourth inning started with a lead-off double by Lauren Wible. Alyssa Schneebaum followed with an infield single. Heather Haskin ripped a single to center to give the Bison a 2-1 lead. After a strikeout by Michelle Danish, Erin Curatola picked up a pair of RBIs on a double to center. Lauren Litts, the clean-up hitter, ended the inning by grounding out with the bases loaded.
Cleveland State added one run in the fifth inning, and nearly evened the score in the seventh. Lisa Vaccaro, who relieved Wiest in the seventh, gave up a lead-off single to Michele Penney, who advanced to third on a fielding error by centerfielder Jill Pompeii. Penney score two batters later when an RBI single by Grace Lubinguhl chased Vaccaro from the game.
Julie Williams came on with runners on first and second and none out. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, J.J. Thornberry hit a grounder to second base. James fielded the ball and fired home to Danish. Danish, who blocked the plate perfectly, applied the tag to the leg of the Cleveland State runner for the second out. The final out of the inning was a hard-hit line drive to right field that Schneebaum chased down.
Wiest gained her second win of the year as she gave up six hits, two runs, one earned, four walks and struck out five in 4 2/3 innings. Vacarro went 1 1/3 innings and allowed four hits, but just one run. Williams, who picked up her first save of the year, went one inning and did not give up a hit.
Bucknell recorded a season-high eight hits with Pompeii and Haskin each leading the way with 2-for-3 performances.
In the first game of the day against George Mason the Bison managed just four hits and wasted a solid pitching performance from Williams by not scoring a run. Williams went all six innings and allowed just three hits and two walks, while striking out four.
Bucknell did have a couple of chances to put runs on the board, but could not come through. In the sixth inning the Bison had runners on first and second with none out, but did not score. Then, in the seventh inning, Wible had a leadoff single, but moved only as far as second base on a passed ball.
George Mason scored its lone run in the fifth inning when Cassi Bailey led off with a single. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, third on a passed ball and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Pompeii led Bucknell with a 3-for-5 showing at the plate Monday. She also scored one run and had one walk while hitting in the leadoff position both games.
Bucknell continues play at the Rebel Spring Games Wednesday, March 16. The Bison will take on Northern Colorado at 8:50 a.m. and Butler at 12:30 p.m.
