Bucknell University
Drexel
Bucknell Softball Defeats Drexel 5-3 in Home Opener, Falls 9-3 in Game Two
3/25/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 25, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell softball team split its doubleheader with the Drexel Dragons at the Varsity Softball field on Wednesday. The Bison (8-14) took the 5-3 decision in the first game, helping head coach Heather Rakosik to her 150th career victory. They struggled to carry their momentum into the second game, however, falling 9-3 in six innings as the game was called due to darkness.
Bucknell opened the scoring in the second inning in their first home game of the season, claiming all three runs off a series of singles from Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central), Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) and Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury).
Trailing 3-0, Drexel (12-10) made up some ground in the top of the third. With Kristen Beaver on first base following a double, Ashley Botelho connected for a home run to left field.
The Dragon's threat was short-lived as the Orange and Blue recovered those two runs in their own half of the inning. Mary Pavlovich (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) singled to center field, scoring Cassie Lloyd (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) who had also singled in the previous at-bat.
Bucknell's three-run lead after three innings was all it would need to secure the win. Katie McDonald (York, Pa./York Area) held Drexel to six hits in the final four innings. Although the Dragons scored their final run in the sixth, the senior pitcher (5-2) held on for her fifth win of the season.
McDonald gave up three runs on 10 hits in her fifth complete game of the year. Her four strikeouts on the day moved her into seventh on the Bucknell career list with 133.
Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) led the team in runs batted in with two, while Carlson finished the opening game 2-for-4 with an RBI. Pavlovich and Snyder both hit 1-for-3 with an RBI as well.
Bucknell struggled to put runs on the scoreboard in the second game of the day despite a solid offensive effort from Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover). The senior tripled in her first trip to the plate, allowing Alison Ford (Suison, Calif./Fairfield) to come home. Beans later scored on a sacrifice fly from Lloyd.
The pair of runs tied the contest, and with neither team scoring in the third, the game looked to be turning into a battle. Drexel broke out in the fourth inning, however, posting five runs to build an insurmountable lead. Nine batters came to plate in the inning for the Dragons as Kelly Downes connected for their second two-run home run of the day.
Beans tallied Bucknell's final run of the day after she reached on a double to left field in the bottom of the fourth, and Drexel tagged on two more runs in the fifth to bring the final tally to 9-3. Bucknell got two runners on base in the sixth, including one on third, but was unable to pick up another run. The Bison ran out of time as the game was called early because of darkness.
Liz Fanning (Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure HS) took the loss for Bucknell in her debut on her new home field. The freshman pitcher (0-5) went 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits while striking out one. Kaytlin Senatore (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) entered the game in relief, allowing four runs on five hits in 2.2 innings of work.
With her two extra base hits in the game, Beans led the Bison offensively. The center fielder finished 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Ford scored the third run for Bucknell, going 1-3 on the day. Snyder was also 2-for-3 at the plate.
Bucknell kicks off Patriot League action on March 28-29 in Worcester, Mass. The Bison take on Holy Cross in a pair of doubleheaders that both start at noon.
