Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Longwood
Bucknell Softball Takes Second Straight Win Against Quinnipiac, Falls to Longwood
2/22/2009 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 22, 2009
FARMVILLE, Va. - For the second day in a row, the Bucknell softball team split their pair of games at the Longwood Tournament in Farmville, Va., on Sunday. After falling 16-3 in five innings to Longwood, the Bison (5-5) took their second victory in as many days off the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 10-7.
Although the Orange and Blue were slow to get started in Sunday action, the team came on strong in the late innings against the Bobcats. Bucknell held a 2-0 lead after scoring one run in each of the first two innings, but Quinnipiac plated two in the fourth to tie the contest.
Bucknell responded quickly with a four-run burst in the bottom of the fifth. Alyssa Okita (Davis, Calif./Davis) singled to short to drive in Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), and Cassie Lloyd (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) doubled to center to bring Okita and Alison Ford (Suison, Calif./Fairfield) home. The two hits gave Bucknell a 5-2 lead that was extended to 6-2 with an RBI single from Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury).
Quinnipiac answered with its own scoring burst in the top of the sixth and took its first lead of the game following a double by Heather Maffeo. The five-run inning put the Bobcats up 7-6.
Just like before, however, Bucknell reclaimed momentum quickly. The Bison opened their half of the sixth with back-to-back ground outs, but Okita reached base on an error and Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover) followed with a walk. Lloyd loaded the bases with a single to second, setting the stage for Sherry Finkel (Morgantown, W. Va./University) to even the score.
Finkel entered the game as a pinch hitter and drew a walk, forcing in Bucknell's seventh run. With the bases still full of Bison, Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) came up big with a single up the middle. The sophomore then advanced to second base on the throw and third on an error by the Bobcats' catcher. The series allowed Finkel, Lloyd and Beans to score and gave Bucknell the 10-7 lead.
Katie McDonald (York, Pa./West York Area) earned her second win in as many days. McDonald (4-1) entered the game to replace Jane Messersmith (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) in the sixth inning.
Ford finished the game with a team-leading three hits on four at-bats, one run and one RBI. Lloyd also earned a multi-hit game, going 2-4 with two runs and two RBI. Snyder's late single was her second hit of the game in four at-bats.
The victory was a nice turnaround after Bucknell found itself in a hole early in the earlier game against Longwood. The Lancers sent 10 people to the plate in the first inning and 13 in the second with 13 of those players scoring to open the game.
The Bison also tallied two of their runs in the opening inning, getting an RBI double from Ford. The hit scored Mary Pavlovich (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) who had doubled to right center to lead off the inning. Fry also crossed the plate in the inning off a Lloyd RBI.
Bucknell tallied its final run in the third as Okita singled to left center filed with one out to bring Ford home.
Ford finished the game 2-3 with one run and one RBI. Fry was also 0-1 with a pair of walks and a run scored against the Lancers. Liz Fanning (Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure HS) was the pitcher of record for the Bison.
The Bison return to the field on Saturday, Feb. 28 for the first day of the Elon Tournament in Elon, N.C. Bucknell faces Kent State at 11 a.m., followed by Elon at 3:30 p.m. Play continues at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 1 against Kent State and 1:15 p.m. against Elon. Live stats will be available for games against Elon at ElonPhoenix.com.
