Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Colgate*
Wible's Walk-Off Home Run Helps Bucknell Softball Split Doubleheader with Colgate
4/2/2006 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 2, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Lauren Wible (Dover, Pa./Dover) hit a two-out, three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two to lead the Bucknell softball team to a doubleheader split with Colgate Sunday afternoon at West Fields. The Bison dropped the first game of the twinbill 5-1 to the Raiders.
Trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Bucknell (8-20, 2-2 PL) had the top of its lineup due up. After leadoff hitter Jennifer James (Ambler, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) popped out to second, pinch hitter Meghan Feller (Willoughby Hills, Ohio/Notre Dame) dropped a single into short center field to bring the team's leading hitter, Kris Devore (Washington, Pa./Trinity), to the plate as the tying run. Devore popped to short for the second out of the inning. After yanking a long foul ball down the left field line, Lauren Litts (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg) was walked on four consecutive pitches, setting the table for Wible.
Wible, the all-time leading home run hitter in Bucknell history with 16, took the first pitch from Kate Howard for a strike. She then pounced on the second and drove it over the centerfield fence to give the Bison the victory. The three runs batted in helped Wible move to within four of the Bison all-time record of 93 held by Heather Hoehn.
It appeared Wible's heroics would not be needed when Bucknell batted around and scored four runs in the second inning. Damara Farkas (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville), Heather Haskin (Noblesville, Ind./Thomas Scecina) and James hit back-to-back-to-back singles up the middle with the bases loaded to score one run each time for the first three runs of the inning. Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt with the bases loaded to plate the fourth tally of the inning.
A throwing error by Haskin helped Colgate (9-12, 2-2 PL) score its first run in the top of the third, but Bucknell still took a 4-1 lead into the fifth inning. Two more errors in the fifth helped the Raiders cut the score to 4-2.
Colgate put together a two-out rally and knocked Bucknell starter Christie Wiest (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley) from the game in the sixth. After getting the first two hitters in the inning to fly out, Wiest walked Meg Mylan and gave up a single to LaPorscha Albert. Wiest was then relieved by Meaghan Haley (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley), who had retired four of the five batters she faced in the first game. Haley walked Calla Yee to load the bases and then gave up a bases-clearing double to Whitney Scott, who extended her hitting streak to 11 games, that gave Colgate a 5-4 advantage. Scott then scored on a throwing error by Devore.
Haley got the final out of the inning, but was replaced by Tanya Roth (1-4) (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) for the seventh. Roth sent the Raiders down in order and picked up her first career win. Wiest got a no-decision as she yielded just five hits and four runs, two earned, in 5.2 innings. She did walk three and strike out three as well.
Colgate used three pitchers as well. Rowe started and got knocked out in the second inning. She gave way to Kelsey Nordstrom after just 1.1 innings. Nordstrom, who is battling back from an injury, pitched a scoreless 2.2 innings. Kate Howard, who limited Bucknell to just one run in the opener, picked up the loss by giving up the three-run home run to Wible.
Bucknell was able to win the second game despite committing five errors.
Meg Muirhead (3-7) (Glendale, Calif./Flintridge Academy) started the first game for Bucknell and had a solid outing as she scattered 11 hits over 5.2 innings. She gave up five runs, but just four were earned, and struck out three. Colgate plated single runs in the second and fourth innings before touching Muirhead for three hits, two walks and three runs in the sixth. Haley relieved her and retired four of the five hitters she faced.
Howard (8-6) had a shutout going until Devore ruined it with a solo home run to left field with one out in the seventh inning. She finished with eight strikeouts in her seven innings of work.
Bucknell managed to split its fourth consecutive doubleheader with Colgate despite being outhit 18-13 and committing seven errors to Colgate's one in the twinbill. The Bison did hit their two home runs and left just nine runners on base, while the Raiders left a total of 18 on base.
Erin Curatola (River Edge, N.J./River Dell) had a solid day at the plate, going 3-for-6 in the two games. Wible, who was 2-for-6, and James, who was 2-for-7, also had multiple-hit days for the Bison.
Scott and Yee paced Colgate with three hits apiece in the first game, while Mylan had a pair of singles and drove in two runs from her ninth spot in the order. Albert and Kortney Hannah registered two hits apiece in the nightcap. Scott, who had four RBIs, combined with Mylan for all six of the Raiders' RBIs in the doubleheader.
Bucknell wraps up its 10-game homestand Wednesday with a non-league doubleheader against Towson at West Fields. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. The Bison are currently 5-3 at home this season.
