Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#1 Lehigh (PL Tournament)
Bucknell Upsets Top-Seeded Lehigh at PL Softball Tournament
5/1/2005 8:00:00 AM | Softball
May. 1, 2005
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The fourth-seeded Bucknell softball team used a complete-game six-hit effort from Christie Wiest, and three runs batted in from Lauren Litts to upset top-seeded Lehigh 6-1 in its first game at the Patriot League Tournament Sunday at Kaufman Field. The Bison then dropped a six-inning 11-1 decision to Army in its second contest before being eliminated from the double-elimination tournament with a 10-5 loss to the Mountain Hawks.
If the Bison (16-22) had won either of their final two games they would have advanced to the championship round. Instead, Army and Lehigh will battle for the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament on Monday.
Bucknell took an early lead against Lehigh in the first game when Litts hit a looping double that landed inside the left-field line to score Jill Pompeii from first base. That, along with Wiest getting out of a one-out bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first without allowing a run set the tone for the game.
The Bison extended their lead to 3-0 in the third inning when Litts belted another double to score Jennifer James and Lauren Wible. Bucknell had four hits in the inning, including an RBI single by Kris Devore to up the score to 4-0, and knocked starter Heather Hamasaki (7-1) from the game when Erin Curatola singled through the left side of the infield.
Hamasaki, who suffered her first loss of the season, lasted just 2.2 innings and allowed six hits, four runs and walked two batters. She also tallied two strikeouts. Kate Arico came on in relief and pitched the final 4.1 innings. She did not allow a hit until the Bison touched her for four singles and two runs in the seventh inning. Heather Haskin and Curatola registered RBI singles during the frame.
Lehigh's only run against Wiest (7-8), who pitched her fifth complete game of the season, came in the fifth inning and was unearned. Jessica Young hit a bouncer back to Wiest, who threw to first, but pulled Wible off the bag. Kate Marvel, who was on second base, raced around to score the Mountain Hawks' only run of the game. Lehigh had been averaging nearly five runs per game entering the contest.
Bucknell managed just four hits against Army pitching in the second game, and its only run came on a solo home run from Lauren Wible in the bottom of the sixth inning. The dinger was the eighth of the season for the second-leading hitter in the country, and the 14th of her three-year career. However, the Black Knights had already built an 11-0 lead and the game was called following the sixth inning.
Heather Haskin, who was 2-for-3, and Ashley Sarnecky, who had a single in the sixth, tallied the only other hits for Bucknell.
Army, which scored six runs in the second and five in the sixth, pounded out 17 hits, including 11 in those two innings. Four players tallied at least two hits, led by Lauren Gobar's four hits. Lindsay March had three runs batted in to pace the team.
Leigh Harrell allowed just three hits and no runs in her five innings of work as she improved to 10-8 for Army. Julie Williams (4-6) picked up the loss for the Bison as she allowed six hits and five runs in 1.2 innings. Lisa Vaccaro relieved her and yielded 11 hits and six runs, two earned, in 4.1 innings.
In the second game against Lehigh, Bucknell held the Mountain Hawks without a run until they plated four in the fourth, two in the fifth and four more in the sixth. The Bison scored first with two runs in the third inning. Wible scored Megan Good on a fielders' choice for the first run, while Litts knocked in the second run with a sacrifice fly.
The Bison added two more runs in the sixth on an RBI double off the bat of Devore and a groundout by Curatola that scored Litts, who had singled earlier in the inning. That cut the Lehigh lead from 10-2 to 10-4 and avoided the game being called due to the eight-run rule. Bucknell scored its final run of the day in the seventh when Alyssa Schneebaum led off with a double. Ashley Sarnecky, who pinch ran for her, scored on a ground out by Jill Pompeii.
Wiest pitched outstanding for the first three innings, allowing just four hits and no runs. However, Lehigh touched her for four runs on four hits in the fourth inning and two more runs on three more hits in the fifth frame. She gave up 11 hits, six runs and three walks overall. Heather Haskin pitched the sixth inning and yielded four runs, none earned, on four hits. Lisa Vaccaro pitched the seventh and allowed only one hit.
Kate Arico (7-2) pitched a complete game for Lehigh and allowed nine hits to the Bison.
Wible, who was 5-for-8 Sunday, finished the season with a 16-game hitting streak in tact. She was one of seven Bison to tally multiple hits Sunday. Devore, Litts and Haskin were each 3-for-9, while Schneebaum, Sarnecky and Curatola each had two hits. Wible, Devore and Curatola each had two runs batted in, while Litts led the team with four in the three games.
Bucknell finished its season with a 16-22 mark, including 8-10 in league play.
