Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Cleveland State (Rebel Spring Games)
Bucknell Softball Drops 8-5 Decision to Cleveland State at Rebel Spring Games
3/15/2006 7:00:00 AM | Softball
March 15, 2006
Bucknell vs. Cleveland State Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Bucknell softball team received a solo home run from Lauren Litts (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg) in the sixth inning and a three-run blast from Lauren Wible (Dover, Pa./Dover) in the seventh, but it was too little, too late as the Bison fell to Cleveland State by an 8-5 score Wednesday evening at the Rebel Spring Games. Bucknell, which defeated Binghamton by a 6-4 score earlier in the day, fell to 3-13 overall and saw their record on their trip to Florida even up at 3-3.
The Bison struggled defensively in the game as they committed five errors and allowed just two earned runs to the Vikings, who recorded a season-high 12 hits.
Christie Wiest (1-5) (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley) drew the start in the circle for Bucknell and pitched six innings. She gave up nine hits and seven runs, although just one was earned. She also struck out six hitters and walked one.
Bucknell nearly got out of the third inning unscathed, but a catcher's interference was called after J.J. Thornberry popped out to first to apparently end the inning. Instead, Cleveland State produced three runs in the third to take a 5-1 lead.
Another error and a pair of wild pitches in the sixth led to two more Cleveland State unearned runs off of Wiest. Meaghan Haley (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley) relieved Wiest in the seventh and allowed three hits, a walk and a sacrifice bunt to the first five hitters she faced. However, Cleveland State tacked on just one run as Haley got the final two hitters in the inning and left the bases loaded.
Bucknell's first run of the game came in the second inning when Heather Haskin (Noblesville, Ind./Thomas-Scencia) dribbled a slow roller through the right side of the infield to score Kris Devore (Washington, Pa./Trinity), who had doubled to lead off the inning, from third base.
Thornberry, a converted catcher, allowed just two more Bison baserunners until Litts led off the sixth inning with a towering home run to left-centerfield. It was her 10th career round tripper, tying assistant coach Angie Stackhouse for fourth on Bucknell's career list. With 15 career dingers, Wible tops the list.
In the bottom of the seventh the Bison tried to pull off their second final-inning comeback of the day. Ashley Sarnecky (Wilmington, Del./Charter School) hit a line-drive double over the center fielder's head with one out to get things started. Meghan Feller (Willoughby Hills, Ohio/Notre Dame) followed with a walk. After a Michelle Danish (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) ground out, Wible drove a home run deep over the right-center field fence to cut the deficit to just three runs. Litts followed with a double, her third hit of the day and second extra-base hit of the game, to chase Thornberry from the game. With the tying run on deck, reliever Grace Luginbuhl got Devore to strike out.
The Bison managed six hits in the game with Litts being the only player to register more than one. She was 3-for-7 in the two games Wednesday. Cleveland State had five players register multiple-hit games, led by three hits from Kaitlin Guyette, who also drove in a team-high two runs.
Thornberry had a solid outing for the Vikings, allowing eight hits and five runs in 6.2 innings. She walked just two hitters and struck out three.
Bucknell, which has posted a 3-3 record on its 10-game trip to the Rebel Spring Games in Florida, play Wagner (8:50 a.m.) and Butler (12:30 p.m.) Thursday.
