Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Army
Bucknell Softball Sneaks Past Army 1-0, Erupts for 9-3 Win in Game Two
4/25/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 25, 2009
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Bucknell softball took a major step toward securing a spot in the Patriot League Tournament as it swept Army 1-0 and 9-3 at the Army Softball Complex on Saturday. Mary Pavlovich (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) scored on an RBI from Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) in game one to score the lone run by either team. The Bison's (17-29, 8-10) offense took off in the second game of the day, as Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) connected for her sixth home run of the season on a 3-for-4 night. Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) hit 4-for-5, and Jane Messersmith (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor) went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI on a night in which she also got the pitching win.
After struggling with their offense through the middle part of the season, the Bison made some solid connections against the Black Knights (20-33, 7-11). Although they earned just one run in the day's opening game, the Orange and Blue posted 13 hits. Bucknell finished game two with 19 hits, the most on the season.
Despite the hitting barrage, both teams were slow to get on the board early in the day. Things changed in game two, however, as Bucknell put up four runs and Army gathered two of its own in the second inning. Snyder's home run opened the gates. Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central) and Pavlovich followed with singles, setting the stage for Ashley Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover). The senior outfielder drilled a two-RBI triple to right center.
With six triples on the year, Beans is tied for sixth on Bucknell's list of single-season triples. She is also tied for ninth with 10 three-baggers in her career.
Carlson snagged her first of four hits, a single to the pitcher, to score Beans and give Bucknell the 4-0 advantage.
The Black Knights got both their runs in the second with two outs. The scores came amid a streak of rare missteps for Messersmith. The freshman walked a batter and followed it up with a hit-by-pitch and a two-RBI single. She gave up another RBI single in the third, the last of the runs allowed.
Army's three runs came on six hits against Messersmith (8-10). Messersmith struck out five Black Knights, bringing her season total to 72.
Army might have been done scoring, but Bucknell was anything but finished. The Bison posted another run in the third on a string of singles. Messersmith led off the inning with a single to left field. She then advanced on a bunt single from Alison Ford (Suison, Calif./Fairfield) and a single to center from Snyder. Messersmith finally came home on the fourth single of the inning, this time on a shot to center from Kristin Frick (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan).
Ahead 5-3, the Bison were held scoreless until the sixth inning when they broke out for four more runs. Carlson and Fry reached on back-to-back bunt singles, then both scored on Messersmith's double to right center. Snyder singled to center, scoring Messersmith, before coming home herself on Frick's second RBI single of the game.
Jessi Muckelroy took the pitching loss for the Black Knights after giving up five runs on six hits in two innings of work. Army was also forced to use two relief pitchers in the outing.
If game two was full of offense, the day's opening game was the complete opposite. Katie McDonald (York, Pa./West York Area) gave Army some quick scoring opportunities in the first inning, but the Black Knights came up empty each time. Army had four base runners in the inning, but McDonald got out of trouble with a groundball to third.
Bucknell also had its opportunities, getting nine hits before one of them finally resulted in a run. After five scoreless innings, Pavlovich reached base on a bunt single. Fry later scored her teammate on a single to right field.
McDonald had little room for error in the remaining inning. The senior pitcher allowed a pair of singles in the bottom half of the sixth, but she got two Black Knights to strike out looking. Colmenero and Ford then teamed up to pick off Rachael Duval on the base paths to get the third out.
Army threatened for a final time with a seventh-inning lead off double, but despite sacrificing the run over to third, McDonald came through in the end again, striking out her fourth of the day and getting her third shut out of the season.
McDonald (8-11) allowed seven hits in her complete game and allowed two walks. Shawna Bleyl (7-11) took the loss after allowing 13 hits and two walks and getting five strikeouts.
Fry was 2-for-3 in the contest, while Messersmith, in the game as the designated player, hit 3-for-4. Snyder got her strong offensive day underway in the game as well, hitting 3-for-3.
Several Bison made major improvements in their batting averages. In the two games, Messersmith hit 6-for-9, improving her average from .262 to .333. Snyder also jumped from .292 to .330 following her 6-for-7 day. Carlson finished 5-for-9, and Fry went 4-for-6 through the first half of the four-game series.
The same two teams are back in action tomorrow for an 11 a.m. doubleheader. The day marks the end of the regular season for the Bison.
