Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
UMBC
Bucknell Softball Drops Pair to UMBC, 9-1 & 6-3
4/14/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 14, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell softball continued to struggle against UMBC on Tuesday as the squad fell in both games of the doubleheader, 9-1 in six innings and 6-3. The Bison (13-27) got their lone run in the opening contest as Alison Ford (Suison, Calif./Fairfield) walked with the bases loaded to score Sam Rollandi (San Carlos, Calif./Notre Dame Belmont). Game two looked more promising as Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover) led off the game with her sixth home run of the season. Ford also homered in the seventh inning.
UMBC (27-16) had an early 6-0 lead midway through the third inning before the Bison could put their first run on the board in the first game of the day. The Retrievers tallied their runs on a number of singles and walks.
Bucknell's run came on the back of singles and walks as well. Rollandi reached base on fielding error by the UMBC second baseman. She eventually advanced on singles from Beans and Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium). With the bases full of Bison, Ford worked the Retrievers' pitcher, Stephanie Weigman, for a walk and an RBI.
After making the score 6-1 through three innings, UMBC continued to find its hits. The squad scored twice more in the fourth and again in the sixth to close out the game, 9-1.
The two hits from Snyder and Beans were the only two recorded by the Bison in the contest. Weigman recorded the complete-game win without allowing an earned run. She also walked two batters while striking out 11.
Jane Messersmith (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) took the loss for the Bison, giving up six earned runs on nine hits through six innings. The freshman (5-10) also struck out seven and walked three.
After being frustrated early in the day, Beans broke through the offensive drought with a lead-off homer to kick things off in game two. The offense continued with a double from Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), but nothing came of the extra-base hit. At the end of one, the teams were tied at one apiece.
The game appeared to be headed for a standoff in the early goings. After taking nearly an hour to play the first two innings, the scored remained locked up at one.
UMBC broke up the duel in the third, however, as Julia Culotta doubled to lead off the inning. She scored o a single to left field from Angela Yannone.
The Retrievers put four runs on the scoreboard in the fifth inning to set the tally at 6-1. Katie McDonald (York, Pa./West York Area) walked Alison Duff to load the bases, marking the end of the day for the senior pitcher. Liz Fanning (Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure HS) entered the game, and Jessica Vetock promptly connected for a two-RBI single to right field. A double for the Retrievers' lead-off hitter completed the scoring in the inning.
In an attempt to keep UMBC within reach, Fry led off the Bison's half of the fifth with a single to the right side. She advanced to second with some help from Ford, then scored on an error by the Retrievers' center fielder with Cassie Lloyd (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) at the plate.
After an uneventful sixth inning, Bucknell found some more power in the form of Ford. She hit her third home run since Saturday. The shot brought the Orange and Blue to within three runs and although Snyder singled up the middle and Kristin Frick (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) walked, Bucknell was unable to get any closer. The game ended on a double play as Messersmith hit the ball sharply to third base.
McDonald (7-9) took the loss for Bucknell, allowing five runs on six hits in 4.1 innings. Wiegman (17-11), who entered the game in relief with two outs in the second inning, snagged her second win of the day.
Beans finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, while Fry and Ford each hit 2-for-4 with a run. Lloyd completed her day with a 1-for-4 performance that included an RBI.
Bucknell is back in action on Saturday, April 18 for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Lehigh at the Bucknell Softball Field. The Bison will honor Beans, Ashley Carlson, Frick, Lloyd and McDonald for Senior Day prior to the games. Sunday's action starts up at noon.
