Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Harvard
Bucknell Softball Saves 7-6 Victory Over Harvard
3/16/2010 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 16, 2010
LOS ANGELES - Bucknell softball recovered its early lead with a four-run sixth inning, giving the Bison a 7-6 victory over Harvard at Smith Field on Tuesday. Lauren Fry (Plainfield, N.J./Plainfield) tied the game with a two-RBI triple and scored the go-ahead run late in the game to hand Bucknell its third win of the season.
Fry finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs in addition to her two runs batted in. The junior's triple to left-center field after the Bison (3-2) saw its 2-0 advantage slip away scored Bridget Gates (Milford, Conn./Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall) and Kara Sullivan (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River). Gates had drilled a single up the middle and Sullivan followed her younger teammate with a walk to load the bases earlier in the inning.
The shot off Fry's bat took the Bison from trailing Harvard (4-6) 6-3 in the middle of the sixth inning to being tied with one out. Fry later scored the deciding run on a long single from the pinch-hitting Lauren Trosch (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh).
Bucknell did not anticipate being in such a tight situation at the game's outset. The Bison put two runs on the board early for the 2-0 lead. Fry was hit by a pitch and Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central) followed by drawing a walk. The two were brought home on singles by Jane Messersmith (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) and Alyssa Okita (Davis, Calif./Davis).
Both teams' offenses stayed quiet until the fourth inning when Harvard scored an unearned run. The Bison got that run back in the bottom half of the frame as Shelly McCormack (Humble, Texas/Kingwood) singled up the middle and Cassie Greenhawk (Oxford, Md./Easton), who pinch ran for McCormack, scored after a pair of wild pitches.
Harvard eventually tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth with a two-run double off the bat of Ellen Macadam. The Crimson's offensive outburst continued into the sixth with three more runs. Gatesput the first two Harvard batters away quickly in the top half of the sixth but hit a rough patch soon after, giving up four consecutive hits that put the Crimson ahead 6-3.
The Bison bounced back in the bottom of the sixth, starting with McCormack getting hit by a pitch. McCormack eventually scored on a single from Mary Horton (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas), setting the stage for Bucknell's comeback.
Horton joined Fry with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Gates (3-0) earned the win in the pitchers' circle after giving up three runs on four hits. None of those runs was earned, however, allowing the freshman to maintain her 0.00 ERA through her first three appearances. She also struck out two and did not give up a walk.
Harvard's Rachel Brown (4-2) took the loss after entering the game in relief as well.
Bucknell will continue its trip in California on Thursday, taking on Utah Valley (11 a.m.) and Loyola Marymount (3 p.m.) in the Crowne Plaza LAX Showcase, hosted by Loyola Marymount at Smith Field.
