Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Softball Suffers Pair of Two-Run Losses at Lehigh
4/28/2010 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 28, 2010
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bucknell softball suffered a setback in its quest for a Patriot League regular-season title, dropping both games of a doubleheader at Lehigh's Kauffman Field, 10-8 and 4-2, on Wednesday afternoon. The Bison (22-15-1, 9-7) received some strong offensive outings from Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), who hit 5-for-7 at the plate, and Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central), who finished 3-for-6 with two doubles and three RBI, but shaky pitching kept Bucknell from its third straight league series win.
Bucknell seemed to have everything under control in the first game of the day. Lehigh put one run on the board in the top of the second inning, but the Bison responded with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Alison Ford (Suisun City, Calif./Fairfield) reached on an error, and Sherry Finkel (Morgantown, W. Va./University) hit a bunt single to reach base. The offensive assault continued as Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) singled to center field to load the bases.
Colmenero did not let that last long as she cleared the bases with a double to left center. Fry followed up with a single up the middle to score Colmenero, and the Bison had a 4-1 advantage after two innings. That lead only grew in the third as Snyder tripled to score Finkel and Jane Messersmith (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor).
Lehigh eventually started to find its offense, however. Three consecutive singles in the fifth inning made the score 6-2, and Audra Wood scored on a passed ball to bring the Mountain Hawks to within three.
Bucknell got one run back in the bottom half of the inning with a two-base hit from Ford. The junior then scored on an RBI single from Messersmith.
The Bison's 7-3 lead began to shrink in the final two frames. Alex Cueva doubled in the sixth, setting the score at 7-5. A pair of walks and two singles in the seventh added another run and loaded the bases for Alex MacLean (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) who entered the game in relief early in the inning. The usually steady freshman could not hold on, however, and gave up the tying run on a wild pitch.
Cueva tallied her fourth and fifth RBI of the game with a triple to take the lead for the first time since the first inning, then scored on an RBI single from Julie Fernandez for 10-7.
Bucknell made one last effort in the bottom of the seventh but fell short. Ford led off the inning with a single up the middle. Four batters later, she scored on an error by the Mountain Hawks' third baseman, but 10-8 was as close as the Bison would get.
MacLean (8-3) ended up with the loss despite pitching only 0.2 innings. She allowed four runs on four hits during that stretch. She had replaced Bridget Gates (Milford, Conn./Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall) in the seventh, who gave up six runs on 10 hits in 6.1 innings of work. Gates also struck out six.
Tiffany Curtis (15-7) benefited from her team's late push, earning the win after allowing eight runs on 11 hits. Only three of those runs were earned.
Cueva led all players in the game, hitting 4-for-5 with two extra-base hits and five RBI. Several Bison finished with multi-hit performances as well. Fry hit 2-for-3, while Ford was 3-for-4. Snyder also connected twice in three at-bats and tallied two RBI, while Colmenero was 2-for-4 with three RBI.
After a disappointing end to game one, Bucknell got off to a slow start in the nightcap. MacLean started the contest in the circle, and gave up two runs in the first inning as Wood, Cueva and Fernandez led off the game with three consecutive singles.
Both teams stayed relatively quiet for the next few innings, but Fernandez got things rolling again for the Mountain Hawks in the fifth. After reaching base on an error and advancing to second with a walk to Jen Colquhoun, Fernandez scored for 3-0 on a sacrifice fly.
Lehigh added its final run in the top of the seventh as Colquhoun homered to right center, but Bucknell put the Mountain Hawks on the edge of their seats at the last minute. Colmenero doubled with two outs, and Fry backed that up with a double of her own, giving Bucknell its first score of the game. Mary Pavlovich (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) made it three straight hits with a single through the right side that scored Fry. The Bison could not get any closer in the end, setting the final score at 4-2.
After going without a loss since March, MacLean took her second defeat of the day, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out seven in the complete game. Rebecca Bliss (8-7) earned the win with her own complete game, allowing just two runs on nine hits.
Fry completed her day with a 3-for-4 appearance. Pavlovich was also 2-for-4 at the plate.
Bucknell will back on the field this weekend when it hosts Army in its final regular-season series. Saturday's action at Bucknell Softball Field is set for 1 p.m. with Senior Day activities scheduled before the first pitch. Sunday's doubleheader will begin at noon and will be broadcast live on WVBU 90.5 and SportsJuice.com. Live stats will also be available for all four games.
