Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Michigan State (Pirate Classic)
Bucknell Softball Falls Twice at East Carolina Pirate Classic
2/19/2006 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 19, 2006
GREENVILLE, Pa. - On the second day of competition Saturday at the East Carolina Pirate Classic, the Bucknell softball team lost to Michigan State 3-2 and Ohio 8-4. The Bison fell to 0-4 with the pair of losses.
Bucknell took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning against the Spartans. Leading off the inning, Damara Farkas (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) reached on an error by the third baseman, stole second, moved to third on a bunt single by Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) and scored on a passed ball. Carlson, who moved to third on the passed ball after stealing second, scored the second run of the inning on a ground out by Lauren Wible (Dover, Pa./Dover), who was 0-for-3 in the game.
The Bison offense would scatter three hits the rest of the way as no more than four hitters came to the plate in an inning. Batting in the leadoff slot, Jennifer James (Ambler, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) led the way with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with two singles and a double. Bucknell totaled six hits overall against Michigan State pitcher Lesley Noel, who pitched a complete game and struck out five and did not walk a hitter.
Tanya Roth (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes), who was making her first appearance of the season, started in the circle for Bucknell. She did not allow a run in 6.1 innings of work, but gave up six hits and four walks. She worked her way out of trouble in the first and second innings when the Spartans had a total of eight runners reach base, but did not allow a run.
After allowing just one base runner in both the third and fourth innings, Roth was relieved by Christie Wiest (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley) one out into the fifth inning with Bucknell still clinging to a 2-0 lead. After getting the first batter to pop out to shortstop, Wiest yielded one single and two walks to face a bases-loaded situation, but got Gina Mondo to fly out to end the inning.
Wiest started the sixth inning on the mound, but Caitlin Mahoney hit a two-run home run and the first three batters reached base and came around to score, forcing Bucknell head coach Heather Rakosik to go back to Roth. Roth did not allow a run the rest of the way although the Spartans had four players reach base on an error, two walks and a hit by pitch.
Ohio scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning, five in the fourth and a single run in the sixth in the nightcap as the Bison fell to the Bobcats 8-4.
Due to rain in the area, Sunday's schedule, which was originally to be in a tournament format, has changed. Bucknell will now play Seton Hall at 9 a.m. and Towson at 1 p.m. to wrap up the weekend of play.
