Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bucknell Softball Starts Day Hot in 10-2 Win, Cools Off in Game Two Shutout at Holy Cross
3/30/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 30, 2009
WORCESTER, Mass. – Bucknell softball split its third consecutive doubleheader as it defeated Holy Cross 10-2 in five innings on Monday at Freshman Field before falling 5-0 in the day's second game. Jane Messersmith (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) earned the win in game one, while Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover) and Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central) each scored twice to lead the Bison (10-16, 2-2). Bucknell managed just two hits against the Crusaders (8-16, 2-2) in game two, however, preventing it from claiming its first Patriot League series win.
Bucknell showed few effects from having to wait an extra day to face Holy Cross after getting rained out on Sunday. The Bison opened play by scoring their first two hitters. Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) and Mary Pavlovich (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) both crossed home plate on a single to the left side from Cassie Lloyd (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) in the first inning.
Lloyd and Beans, who walked in her first plate appearance, also scored in the inning on a double to center field from Colmenero. In all, the Bison sent 10 batters to the plate in the opening inning and kicked off play by taking a 5-0 lead.
The Orange and Blue struck again in the third inning, getting four more runs and extending their advantage to 9-0. Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) doubled to center with the bases loaded. The hit allowed Sherry Finkel (Morgantown, W. Va./University), who pinch ran for Lloyd after the senior reached base on error, and Beans, who was hit by a pitch, to score. Pavlovich closed out the inning's scoring with two-RBI fly out to left.
Holy Cross put up its only two runs in the game in the bottom half of the third inning with the help of three bunts and two walks. Camille Trainor bunted to lead off the inning and eventually scored following a walk, a sacrifice bunt to the third-base side and a groundout to shortstop. Katie Alexander claimed the team's other RBI on a sacrifice bunt that scored Gwen Reimer.
Bucknell tacked on its final run in the fifth. Carlson reached on a single to the shortstop then stole second base to put herself in scoring position. The senior came home as Fry singled to left. With the 10-2 lead after five innings, the mercy rule came into play and the Bison earned their 10th win of the season.
Messersmith (3-6) allowed just two runs on three hits in her five innings of work in the pitchers' circle. The freshman struck out two in her seventh complete game of the season. Natalie Cruz (1-5) took the loss for the Crusaders.
Colmenero finished the game 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and two runs. Also chipping in two RBI apiece were Lloyd, Snyder and Pavlovich. Pavlovich's pair of runs batted in came despite hitting 0-for-3 with a walk. As hot as Bucknell was in the first game, however, the team was just as cold in the second game of the day. Holy Cross struck early, getting two runs in the first inning. Similar to the first game, the team's scores came by playing small ball. Reimer led off the game with a bunt single. Mandy Correale bunted as well to bet on base and advance Reimer to second. Correale eventually scored on a single by Keeley Seniuk.
The Crusaders added two more runs in the second inning, this time with back-to-back doubles to left center. Those two hits marked the day's end for Bucknell pitcher Katie McDonald (York, Pa./West York Area). The senior gave up four runs on six hits through 1.1 innings of work.
Messersmith concluded the game for the Bison, allowing one run in the sixth inning.
Bucknell struggled at the plate, registering only two hits. Snyder doubled to center in the third inning, but a double play erased the Bison's hopes of tallying their first run. Lloyd singled up the middle in the sixth and Alison Ford (Suison, Calif./Fairfield) followed with a walk, but nothing came of the production as Bucknell was shut out for the second time this season.
Dettey Audette (3-5) took the win for the Crusaders, while McDonald (6-3) took the loss.
Bucknell returns to the field on Tuesday, March 31 for a non-conference doubleheader at Towson. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m. Live stats from Towson, Md., will be available at TowsonTigers.com
