Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
North Carolina Central
Ford, Snyder Homer as Bucknell Softball Sweeps North Carolina Central
2/15/2009 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 15, 2009
CARY, N.C. - The Bison homered twice in the first game of a doubleheader with North Carolina Central on Sunday, including a grand slam from Alison Ford (Suison, Calif./Fairfield) in the fifth inning as the Bucknell softball team (3-3) defeated the Eagles (0-8) 14-3 in game one and 9-0 in game two. Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) finished the day with five RBI, four of which came in the first game with the help of a three-run home run.
Bucknell struck early and often in game one, taking a 6-0 lead in the first inning. Ten Bison came to the plate as NC Central's Michelle Ishida gave up four walks in the inning. Three of those walks came with the bases loaded and in order to Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover), Snyder and Jane Messersmith (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor). Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) followed Messersmith's walk with a single, her second of the inning, and scored Snyder and Beans. Messersmith was called out at the plate to end the inning up 6-0.
Although the Orange and Blue earned their runs with small ball to start off the game, their final eight runs came in big fashion. Snyder hit her first home run of the season in the third inning, Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central) tripled in the fourth and Ford connected for her first career grand slam in the fifth.
Ford's home run helped the sophomore to a 2-3 game with three runs and four RBI. Snyder also tallied four RBI on 1-2 hitting after walking with the bases loaded in the first. Freshman pitcher Kaytlin Senatore (1-0) earned the first win of her collegiate career, giving up three earned runs on eight hits.
Game two followed a similar trend with the Bison sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring all nine of their runs in the opening inning. Carlson kicked things off with a walk. With Snyder following her at the plate, Carlson scored on an error by the Eagles' catcher. Snyder then walked herself before eventually scoring as Ford drew her own base on balls two batters later.
With the bases loaded for Messersmith, the freshman doubled to score Ford and Beans and set the runs tally at 4-0.
Kara Sullivan (Wading River, N.Y./Shorham-Wading River) earned the fourth walk of the inning to reload the bases with just one out on the board. Brittany Schlorff (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro Horsham) posted her first career RBI with a walk of her own. With the bases still full of Bison, Carlson walked for the second time in the inning to score Messersmith. The Orange and Blue capped off the inning with a Beans two-RBI double, allowing Carlson and Schlorff to come home.
Through the first half inning, Carlson tallied two runs and an RBI without registering a single hit or at-bat.
The game remained scoreless through the remaining four innings thanks in part to a strong performance from Katie McDonald (2-1). The lone senior pitcher on the squad earned her second win of the season while allowing two hits, two walks and no runs through five innings.
Beans finished the second game 2-2 at the plate with two RBI and a run, while Messersmith, who entered the lineup as Bucknell's designated player a day after getting her first collegiate win in the circle yesterday, hit 2-3 with two RBI and a run as well.
Bucknell returns to action on Friday, Feb. 20 at the Longwood Tournament in Farmville, Va. The Bison will face Longwood on Friday, followed by Stony Brook on Saturday, Feb. 21 and St. John's and Quinnipiac on Sunday, Feb. 22.
