Bucknell University
Towson
Bucknell Softball Swept by Towson, Falls 1-0 and 9-1
3/31/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 31, 2009
TOWSON, Md. – Bucknell softball saw its offensive struggles continue at Towson as the Tigers completed a two-game sweep of the Bison on Tuesday. Game one featured a hard fought battle between pitchers, but Towson (20-9) came out on top, 1-0. The Orange and Blue (10-18) were unable to rebound for game two, falling 9-1 in five innings.
Bucknell fell behind early in the day's second game, giving up two runs in both the first and second innings. Trailing 4-0 in the fourth, the Bison finally got on the scoreboard. Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover) connected for a home run to left field with two outs, bringing the score to 4-1. Jane Messersmith (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) followed the shot with a walk, but the Bison were unable to manage a second run.
Bucknell saw another opportunity slip away in the top of the fifth. Brittany Schlorff (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro Horsham) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second base as Kelly Ebner hit Alicia Wheeler (Phoenix, Ariz./Paradise Valley High) with a pitch. Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) replaced Wheeler on the base paths, and she and Schlorff successfully completed the double steal.
Mary Pavlovich (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) then walked to load the bases with two outs, but Cassie Lloyd (Mifflingburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) popped up to the catcher to close the door.
Towson picked up where Bucknell left off in their half of the fifth, however, scoring five in the inning with the help of some impressive power hitting. Stefanie Streets homered to center to lead off the set, and Marybeth Herrick and Kim Lempa each connected for RBI extra base hits. Lempa later scored on a Bison throwing error.
Sammi DiPompo hit an RBI single to right field to make the score final at 9-1.
Messersmith (3-7) started the game in the pitchers' circle, giving up four runs on five hits and striking out two. Liz Fanning (Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure HS) replaced her classmate and pitched 2.2 innings, giving up four runs on four hits. Messersmith stayed in the game as the designated player. Kaytlin Senatore (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) also saw some pitching action in the bottom of the fifth, allowing two runs, neither of them earned.
Ebner (3-2) earned the win for Towson, giving up one run on one hit.
Beans finished the game 1-for-2 with her home run to mark Bucknell's only run of the day.
The Bison held Towson to a lone run in the opening game but were unable to put themselves on the scoreboard. It was the second consecutive game in which Bucknell had been shut out.
Katie McDonald (York, Pa./West York Area) bounced back from a rough outing at Holy Cross yesterday to limit the Tigers to one run on just three hits. The senior pitcher also struck out five on the day. The hiccup in McDonald's performance came in the fourth inning, as Mindy Bean reached on a fielder's choice and later scored as Lindsey Kent singled up the middle.
The Bison had few offensive opportunities, managing four hits in the game. Their best shot at a run came in the top of the seventh as Beans put herself in scoring position by stealing second with two outs. Kristin Frick (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) gave it her best shot at scoring Beans, but came up short, flying out to right field.
McDonald (6-4) took the loss for Bucknell, while Towson's Shannon Johnston (11-4) claimed the win. Johnston recorded five strikeouts in her 13th complete game and second shutout of the season.
Bucknell returns home for its next four-game series. The Bison will face Lafayette April 4-5 at the Bucknell Softball Field. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m., while Sunday's action will get underway at noon.
