Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Colgate
Bucknell Softball Swept in Four-Game Series at Colgate
4/12/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 12, 2009
HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Bucknell softball team connected for a combined three home runs at the Eaton Street Field, but the display of power was not enough to keep the team from being swept by Colgate on Sunday. The Bison (13-25, 4-8) dropped the opening game of the doubleheader, 9-4, before falling in five innings in game two, 11-3. Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) drilled her third shot in two days, Alison Ford (Suison, Calif./Fairfield) added her second homer in two games and Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover) completed the trio of dingers with a lead-off shot in the sixth inning of game one.
Snyder started off the Bison's scoring with her home run to left center field in the first inning. Bucknell's lead was short-lived, however, as Colgate (19-10, 9-3) put five runs on the scoreboard in its half of the first. The Raiders sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning, and each of the first five hitters scored. None of those players recorded a hit in their plate appearances, however, as three reached on walks and two reached on hit-by-pitches. Jane Messersmith (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) surrendered just two hits in the inning, but the damage had been done.
Bucknell attempted to chip away at Colgate's lead, getting a run in the third inning and another in the fourth. Kristin Frick (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) doubled to center and scored on a single to center from Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury).
Snyder recorded her second run in the fourth, following a single up the middle. The sophomore shortstop advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Ford, then moved to third on a single from Mary Pavlovich (Johnstown, Pa./Richland). She ultimately scored on a throw to second as Pavlovich attempted to steal.
Colgate's Erin Gomez put the game out of reach for Bucknell with a three-run homer in the fifth, giving the Raiders the 8-3 advantage.
Beans gave it one more shot as she led off the sixth inning with her fifth home run of the season. Colgate even made that run up in their half of the inning, however. A single and a sacrifice fly set the final score at 9-4.
Following her control struggles, Messersmith (5-9) took the loss. Liz Fanning (Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure HS) pitched well in relief, allowing three earned runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings of work. Jesse McCarrick (9-2) claimed the win for Colgate after fours runs on six hits and seven strikeouts in her complete game.
Snyder hit 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in the game. Beans, Carlson, Pavlovich and Frick accounted for the Bison's remaining four hits.
The Raiders started off game two being shaky in the field. Beans led off the game by reaching base on a fielding error by the second baseman. After Carlson moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt, Snyder reached on another fielding error, this time by the shortstop. The errors proved helpful for the Bison, as Ford homered, bringing home Beans and Snyder.
Bucknell managed to hold on to its 3-0 lead for only one inning, as Colgate scored twice in the bottom of the first and again in the second. Tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the third, the Raiders continued their strong offensive performance, snagging five runs on three hits.
After the three-run first inning, Lacy Ver Steeg shut out the Bison, allowing the Raiders to run away with the game. The game was called in the fifth with Colgate leading 11-3.
Ver Steeg (4-4) earned the win for Colgate, giving up three runs, none of them earned, on four hits. Katie McDonald (York, Pa./West York Area) took the loss with nine earned runs on eight hits in four innings of work.
Ford led the Bison offensively, going 2-for-3 with a run and three RBI, all coming off her home run. Carlson and Sherry Finkel (Morgantown, W. Va./University) finished 1-for-2.
Snyder led the team in several categories during the four-game series. She hit .455 (5-11) with six runs, three home runs and a 1.273 slugging percentage against the Raiders. Snyder also posted a .538 on-base percentage and batted in four runs.
The Bison will return home to Bucknell Softball Field on Tuesday, April 14 to take on UMBC. The doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. Live stats on GameTracker will be available for both games at BucknellBison.com.
