Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Softball Claims 3-1 Victory Over Lehigh in Game Two
4/19/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 19, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - For the second consecutive day, Bucknell softball split a twin bill with Lehigh, dropping the opening contest 10-1 in five innings before coming back for a 3-1 victory in game two. With Saturday's split, the Bison (15-29, 6-10) finished at .500 in a series versus the Mountain Hawks (27-16-1, 13-3) for the first time since 1999.
Coming into the weekend, no Patriot League team had handed Lehigh more than one loss this season, and only Delaware and Villanova defeated the Mountain Hawks twice in the same series.
Jane Messersmith (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) earned the game-two win in the pitcher's circle for Bucknell without allowing an earned run on three hits in seven innings of work. The freshman (7-10) also earned yesterday's win on a one-hit shut out, giving her 0.00 ERA in 12 innings pitched with seven walks and nine strikeouts in two games. The Mountain Hawks hit just .095 against Messersmith this weekend.
Bucknell scored one run in both the second and third innings in game two. Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central) walked and advanced to third on a single from Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium). Messersmith helped her own cause by driving Colmenero home on a single to the shortstop.
The Bison took a 1-0 lead into the third, and that advantage was extended as Lehigh's Tiffany Curtis began to struggle in the pitcher's circle. Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) reached on a fielding error by Curtis. The pitcher then walked the next two batters, Alison Ford (Suison, Calif./Fairfield) and Cassie Lloyd (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg), to load the bases.
That marked the end of the day for Curtis, as Lehigh brought Lisa Sweeney, who earned the win in game one, into the game in relief. Sweeney walked the first batter she faced in Colmenero. Sweeney then got Snyder to foul out and struck out Kristin Frick (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan), but the damage had been done. The Bison led 2-0.
Lehigh threatened briefly in the fifth inning as Brooke Lewis led off the set with a walk. That came back to haunt the Bison as the walk turned into the Mountain Hawks' only run in the contest. Lehigh also had a pair of runners in scoring position in the fifth, but Messersmith got out of trouble, getting Sweeney to strike out swinging for the third out.
Bucknell reclaimed its two-run advantage, scoring in the bottom of the fifth. Ford reached on an error by the Mountain Hawks' shortstop to kick off the inning. Brittany Schlorff (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro Horsham) pinch ran for Ford, a move that paid off as she was able to steal third. Colmenero later connected for a sacrifice fly that scored Schlorff and gave Bucknell some breathing room.
Messersmith closed out the final two innings without allowing another hit, getting her 13th complete game of the season.
Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover), Snyder and Messersmith claimed the only three hits in the matchup, and adding to Messersmith's RBI was Colmenero with two. The pair of runs batted in came despite the sophomore going 0-for-0 with two walks.
Curtis (10-6) took the loss, allowing two runs, only one of them earned, on who hits in 2.1 innings.
As dominant as Messersmith was in game two, Lehigh's Sweeney (17-8) was just as impressive in the day's opening contest. The senior gave up one run on three hits in five innings, while striking out six.
Sweeney walked Beans in the leadoff spot, but she rebounded quickly striking out Carlson and getting Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) and Ford to fly out to right. She faltered in the second inning, giving up back-to-back extra-base hits. Snyder doubled to left field, and Frick tripled to right. Lehigh had already posted three runs in the top of the first, however, and Snyder's run only brought Bucknell to with two runs at 3-1.
Lehigh put three more runs on the board in the third inning, starting with a hit-by-pitch. Sweeney reached after getting plunked and eventually scored following three consecutive singles. Carly Potock capped off the inning's scoring with a bases-clearing double.
After a 1-2-3 fourth inning for Katie McDonald (York, Pa./West York Area), the Mountain Hawks added their final three runs in the fifth to put the game out of reach for Bucknell. A two-RBI triple and an RBI single up the middle closed the door on the Bison, giving Lehigh the 10-1 win after five innings.
McDonald (7-11) took the loss for Bucknell, allowing nine earned runs on 12 hits. The senior also struck out five.
Lloyd and Frick each finished 1-for-2, while Snyder was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
With just one weekend remaining in regular-season Patriot League play, Bucknell is tied with Holy Cross for fourth place. Lehigh, Colgate and Army sit in the top three spots. The top four teams qualify for the Patriot League Tournament in May. The Bison and Army will face off April 25-26 in West Point, N.Y.
The Bison are back in action on Thursday, April 23 when they take on Susquehanna at the Bucknell Softball Field for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader. Both games will be broadcast live on local radio on WVBU (90.5) and online at SportsJuice.com. Live stats will also be available on GameTracker at BuckellBison.com.
