Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
George Washington (Rebel Spring Games)
Devore, Wible Lead Bucknell Softball to First Win of Season
3/13/2006 7:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2006
KIsSIMMEE, Fla. - Kris Devore (Washington, Pa./Trinity) hit a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to stake the Bucknell softball team to a 10-7 lead on its way to a 10-9 extra-inning victory over George Washington Sunday evening at the Osceola Softball Complex. The win was the first of the season for the Bison, who fell to Rider 2-0 in their second contest of the day.
Devore was 3-for-5 in the game against George Washington with a career-high five runs batted in. Lauren Wible (Dover, Pa./Dover) was 4-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Lauren Litts (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg) was 2-for-5 with 2 RBI. Wible, Litts and Devore, the 3-4-5 hitters in the Bucknell lineup, combined for nine hits in 14 at bats with eight RBI.
Against the Colonials every Bison starter recorded at least one hit as they pounded out a season-high 16 hits.
A single by Devore in the top of the first inning that scored Erin Curatola (River Edge, N.J./River Dell) from second base gave Bucknell an early 1-0 lead. However, George Washington put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first and one more in the second to take a 3-1 lead against Bison starter Meg Muirhead (Glendale, Calif./Flintridge Academy).
Over the final four innings of the contest a total of 15 runs were scored by the two teams, including nine by Bucknell.
In the top of the fifth Devore knocked in two more runs with another single to knot the game up at 3-3. An RBI single by Wible that tied her for fifth on the Bucknell career list with current assistant Angie Stackhouse and Kristen Sandel, and an RBI double by Litts, helped the Bison plate three runs and take a 6-4 lead.
George Washington pounded three singles in the bottom of the sixth and scored two runs to tie the score again heading into the seventh inning. Chrysanthi Halkiotis, who was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI in the game, and Elana Meyers, who had a team-high four hits in five at bats and scored three runs from her leadoff position, were among the Colonials to get hits in the sixth inning.
Both teams were able to manufacture a run in the seventh inning by virtue of bunts. A one-out single by Ashley Sarnecky (Wilmington, Del./Charter School), followed by an infield single on a bunt by Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover) and a fielding error by the third baseman on an Ashley Carlson bunt helped push the Bison back in front by one.
A pair of walks by Bucknell reliever Katie McDonald (York, Pa./West York) and a two-out RBI single by Meyers helped George Washington even the score and force extra innings.
With the international tie-breaker rule in effect the eighth inning started with a runner on second base. Wible bunted Damara Farkas (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) over to third. Litts followed with an RBI double and Dvore crushed her two-run home run over the right-centerfield fence
The Colonials managed three hits and two runs against reliever Christie Wiest (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley), but she picked up her second career save by pitching the eight inning. McDonald, who was making her first career appearance, earned her first win. She allowed just one hit and to runs in 1.1 innings of work. Muirhead started and yielded eight hits, five walks and six runs in 5.2 innings.
Katie Miller started on the mound for George Washington and allowed 11 hits, two walks and six runs in 5.2 innings. Carrie Higdon relieved her and got the loss while allowed four runs and five hits in 2.1 innings. Just seven of Bucknell's 10 runs were earned due to four Colonial errors.
The second game of the day, the 2-0 loss to Rider, featured much less offense as the pitcher dominated. There were just five hits in the game and Rider's first came one out into the fifth, while Bucknell picked up its first when Carlson led off the fourth with a single.
Wiest had a solid start as she went 5.0 innings and allowed five hits and two runs while striking out three. Tanya Roth pitched the final two innings and allowed just one hit and one walk and pitched a perfect seventh inning.
Entering the bottom of the seventh Bucknell had mustered just one hit, but with two outs and the bases empty, Sarnecky launched a triple to right field to bring the tying run to the plate. However, Beans popped out to first to end the game.
The Bison had just two players advance past second base as Rider starter Heather Beintema struck out 12 hitters and didn't walk one while pitching a complete game.
Bucknell continues play at the week-long Rebel Spring Games Monday when it plays Fairleigh Dickinson at 2:20 p.m. and Columbia at 4:10 p.m.
