Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Colgate
Bucknell Softball Drops 5-4 Decision to Colgate in Extra-Inning Patriot League Tournament Contest
5/14/2010 8:00:00 AM | Softball
May 14, 2010
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Bucknell softball saw a three-run lead disappear late in the game, sending them to a 5-4 loss to Colgate in the Patriot League Tournament at the Army Softball Complex on Friday afternoon. A three-run home run in the sixth inning and an RBI single in the eighth, handed the Bison (25-18-1) a defeat and sends them to a critical showdown with the winner of the Army-Lehigh matchup at 5 p.m. today to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.
Bucknell wasted little time in making its presence felt. An Alana Dyson single up the middle in the top of the first inning was soon erased as the Bison turned a solid double play that also retired Stephanie Hartquist.
Bucknell then turned that defense into strong offense almost immediately. Mary Pavlovich (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) reached base on a fielder's choice, and Jane Messersmith (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) followed with a single to center field. Messersmith and Pavlovich put some pressure on the Raiders' defense by completing a double steal, and it paid off for the Bison. Pavlovich just avoided a tag at home to put Bucknell up 1-0. Messersmith eventually scored on an error by the Colgate shortstop.
Pavlovich was involved in another play at the plate in the third inning trying to give her team a 3-0 advantage. After reaching second base on back-to-back errors by the Raiders, the senior was thrown out at home after a hit to center field from Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central).
Colgate struggled with errors throughout the contest, committing five on the day.
Not tallying that run proved costly for the Bison as the Raiders' Jennifer Ortega sent a home run to right field to put her team on the board at 2-1. That turned out to be the first homer of the day for Colgate. Emmie Dolfi sent a shot to right field as well in the sixth inning that tied the contest at four runs apiece.
Dolfi's home run erased a 4-1 advantage for Bucknell. The Bison had added a run in both the fourth and fifth innings. Sherry Finkel (Morgantown, W. Va./University) singled to third in the fourth frame to record her second hit of the day. Cassie Greenhawk (Oxford, Md./Easton), pinch running for Finkel, later scored with some help from a bases-loaded, two-out single off Pavlovich's bat.
Bucknell then made it 4-1 in the fifth. Alison Ford (Suisun City, Calif./Fairfield) led off the inning with a long double to left-center field. After entering the game to pinch run, Lauren Trosch (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh) scored as Finkel singled off the third baseman's glove.
With the score knotted up at 4-4, pitcher Alex MacLean (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) kept Bucknell in the mix with a strong relief appearance. The freshman, who entered for Bridget Gates (Milford, Conn./Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall) in the sixth inning, retired the first four batters she faced with three of them on strikeouts.
The pitching effort looked to be especially important as Bucknell struggled to plate another run in the bottom of the seventh despite giving Colgate a scare. Colmenero singled to left center and advanced to second on an error that also put Mary Horton (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) on base. Although Colmenero and Horton both moved into scoring position, nothing came of the threat, and the game went into extra innings for the sixth time this season.
Colgate did not waste its opportunity at another life. Dyson reached on an error to lead off the eighth inning. A sacrifice bunt and a ground out moved her to third, and a single up the middle from Nicole Siedhoff put Colgate ahead for the first time of the day at 5-4.
Courtney O'Connell closed the day allowing just one more baserunner. The Colgate pitcher walked Pavlovich with two outs but avoided any real danger, recording two ground outs and fly out in the inning. O'Connell closed out the complete game with one earned run on 10 hits with seven strikeouts.
MacLean (10-5) took the loss despite not allowing an earned run on one hit in 2.1 innings pitched. Gates gave up four runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings.
Offensively, Finkel, Pavlovich and Colmenero each recorded multi-hit games. Finkel finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, Pavlovich was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and Colmenero was 2-for-4.
With the outcome, Colgate advances to tomorrow's championship game, while Bucknell will try to keep its season going in its second game slated for 5 p.m. today.
