Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Colgate*
Bucknell Softball Splits Doubleheader with Colgate
4/1/2006 7:00:00 AM | Softball
April 1, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Lauren Litts (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg) hit a towering grand slam to highlight a five-run first inning as Bucknell earned a split of a softball doubleheader with a 6-4 victory in the second game over Colgate Saturday afternoon at West Fields. The Raiders won the first game 2-0 behind a pair of first-inning runs.
Colgate's Kate Howard (7-5) picked up the win in the first contest by pitching a complete game, four-hit shutout, her first of the year. She also started the second game, but lasted just four batters and did not record an out. Jennifer James (Ambler, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) drew a leadoff walk to get the first inning that featured six hits, one walk and one hit by pitch started. Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) followed by beating out a bunt single. Howard then hit Lauren Wible (Dover, Pa./Dover) to load the bases for Litts. The team's leading home run hitter with four then crushed her second career grand slam over the left field fence to knock Howard from the game. Ironically, Litts' only other grand slam in her career was also against the Raiders last year. Litts, who equaled her career high with her fourth home run of the season, is now tied for second on Bucknell's all-time home run list with 12.
Ashley Rowe relieved Howard and after getting Kris Devore (Washington, Pa./Trinity) to ground out to short, yielded four straight singles which resulted in one more run. Rowe was helped by Ashley Sarnecky (Wilmington, Del./Charter School) getting picked off of third base for the second out of the inning.
Bucknell (7-19, 1-1 Patriot League) added another run in the second inning when Litts reached second on a two-out double. Devore followed with a single to center that the centerfielder, Calla Yee, misplayed, allowing Litts to score.
Rowe settled down from there on out as the Bison managed just one more hit and three more base runners over their final four plate appearances. Rowe retired the final eight Bucknell hitters in the game.
Meaghan Haley (1-2) (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley) got the start and picked up her first career win for Bucknell. She went 4.1 innings and gave up six hits, three runs and walked two batters. She scattered three hits over the first three innings without allowing a run.
Haley gave up Colgate's first run in the fourth inning when she walked two hitters and yielded a single up the middle to Yee to load the bases with just one out. Jessi Bentovoja hit a sharp grounder to Devore at short and Devore got the second out of the inning on a close play at second, but the Raiders' first run crossed the plate.
Colgate (8-11, 1-1 Patriot League) added three more runs in the fifth and knocked Haley from the game. After allowing back-to-back hits, Haley was replaced by Katie McDonald (York, Pa./West York). McDonald gave up a two-run single to Rowe, the first batter she faced, and two more hits in the inning as Colgate tacked on three runs.
McDonald settled down in the sixth inning as she sent the Raiders down in order. She extended her streak to five straight retired when she got the first two hitters in the seventh. However, two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Colgate to put the go-ahead run on first base. McDonald ended the game by getting pinch hitter Tiana Tyeskey to pop out to the catcher.
The opener was more of a pitcher's duel between Howard and Christie Wiest (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley). Both hurled complete games with Howard giving up just four hits to six for Wiest. However, Wiest yielded three straight one-out hits in the first inning that resulted in two Colgate runs. The Raiders had just four other hitters reach base the final six innings as Wiest walked just one and struck out seven in her seven innings of work. Howard did not allow a runner past second base, and never faced more than four hitters in an inning.
Litts led Bucknell's offense on the day, going 2-for-6 with two runs and six runs batted in. Carlson was 3-for-6 with one runs scored in the doubleheader, while Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover) and Sarnecky also had multiple-hit days. Devore saw her nine-game hitting streak come to an end in the opener, but started a new one with a hit in the nightcap.
Bucknell did not commit an error in either game.
Rowe and Yee combined for nine of Colgate's 17 hits in the doubleheader. Rowe was 4-for-6 with three runs scored and three runs batted in. A slap hitter, Yee was 5-for-6 in the two games.
Bucknell and Colgate continue their four-game weekend series with another doubleheader Sunday afternoon at West Fields. The first game is slated to begin at 12 p.m.
