Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Colgate
BUCKNELL SOFTBALL WINS PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH PAIR OF COMEBACK VICTORIES AGAINST COLGATE
5/15/2010 8:00:00 AM | Softball
May 15, 2010
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Sherry Finkel (Morgantown, W. Va./University) hit a game-winning home run in the ninth inning of the day's opener to keep Bucknell softball alive in the Patriot League Championships, and Mary Pavlovich (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) drilled a two-RBI single for the win game two as the Bison won their second championship title in program history on Saturday afternoon at the Army Softball Complex. Bucknell won game one 4-3 in nine innings before defeating Colgate for the second time 6-4 in game two. Finkel, Jane Messersmith (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor) and Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) were each named to the All-Tournament Team, while Alex MacLean (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) was selected as the Patriot League Tournament MVP.
Bucknell's only other title came in 1997 as the squad defeated Colgate 4-1 in 19 inning for the first ever championship in program history. The Bison will now make their first ever NCAA appearance. The win also ties a school record in single-season victories. Bucknell is now 28-18-1 on the season.
The Bison needed extra innings in 2010 as well. Facing elimination in the first game of the day, Finkel connected on a home run to left center field in the top of the ninth inning. The hit was her fifth of the day and followed three singles and a double earlier in the day. Finkel had the Colgate pitcher's number during the Patriot League Tournament, as the senior also hit 3-for-4 against Courtney O'Connell in the team's first meeting on Friday.
Bucknell had its back up against the wall as Finkel made her fifth plate appearance of the day. The senior hit her third home run of the season to cap off a roller coaster of an opening game.
For the second time, Colgate wreaked havoc in the late innings after Bucknell jumped ahead early. The Bison went ahead 2-0 in the third with some solid hitting. Messersmith led off the third with a single to left field. Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central) sent Messersmith home with an RBI single. Finkel kept things going with an RBI single of her own, scoring Colmenero to put Bucknell up by two.
Singles were also on the weapon of choice for Colgate in the bottom of the fifth as the Raiders put their first run on the board. Courtney O'Connell led off with a base hit. She eventually came around to score with help from singles off the bats of Melissa Babb-Renta and Alana Dyson.
Action really heated up in the sixth inning. Bucknell got a run back in the top of the inning as Fry led off with a single through the left side. Cassie Greenhawk (Easton, Md./Oxford) replaced her on the basepaths, and an error by the Colgate catcher moved her into scoring position. Pavlovich followed with a single to put runners on first and third with no outs.
Bucknell then loaded the bases for the third time in the game on a fielder's choice for Messersmith, but the Orange and Blue could get just one run out of the situation. Alison Ford (Suisun City, Calif./Fairfield) recorded her 30th RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly. The Raiders turned a double play on the fly ball, throwing out the pinch running Kara Sullivan (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River) at third base.
The bottom of the sixth inning was just as action-packed but it did not go in Bucknell's favor. Nicole Siedhoff singled to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a wild pitch. Natalie Siedhoff was hit by a pitch to reach base, and O'Connell reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with one out. Nicole Siedhoff moved to third on the play on a Bison error.
A second error in the inning scored two Raiders, allowing Colgate to tie the game at 3-3. MacLean finally got things under control, ending the inning with her third strikeout of the day.
Neither team scored in the seventh inning, although Bucknell put another runner in scoring position, and the Bison and Raiders went to extra innings against each other for the second time in the tournament.
Bucknell missed several offensive opportunities in the contest. With Finkel left on third in the top of the seventh, the Bison stranded their 12th runner. That trend only continued in the eighth frame. Pavlovich reached on an error and made her way to third base on a single from Messersmith. The senior stumbled trying to round third, preventing her from scoring on the play.
At the game's end, Bucknell had left a total of 13 runners on base, but the Bison dodged a bullet with Finkel's homer to send them to the second and deciding game.
MacLean (13-5) claimed her third win of the tournament, allowing one earned run on eight hits. She also struck out five and walked one in her complete game. O'Connell (10-8) took the loss in the pitchers' circle, giving up four runs on 14 hits. It was the first loss of the tournament for both Colgate and O'Connell.
Almost lost in the excitement of Finkel's impressive offensive performance was Messersmith's own multi-hit outing. The sophomore outfielder finished the opening contest 4-for-5 with a run.
Bucknell led early in both contests, and although the team gave up the lead on both occasions, the Bison never said quit. Bucknell took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the championship game. Lauren Fry drew a leadoff walk, Pavlovich singled up the middle and Messersmith followed with a single of her own to load the bases with no outs. It took the Orange and Blue some time to cash in on the opportunity, however. Two outs later, Finkel connected for a single to score Pavlovich and keep the bases full. Alyssa Okita (Davis, Calif./Davis) reach on an error by the shortstop and Messersmith came home to put the Bison ahead by two.
Colgate kept it close in the bottom of the first with a series of hits. Dyson singled and eventually came around to score on a single by Jennifer Ortega. The 2-1 Bison lead held until the third inning when Colgate again heated up at the plate. Three consecutive base hits by the Raiders knotted things up at 2 runs apiece, and a sacrifice fly from Emmie Dolfi plated the go-ahead run. Natalie Siedhoff singled in the fourth run of the day for Colgate before the Raiders loaded the bases with two out. MacLean, who entered the game in relief earlier in the frame, got out of the inning without any further damage.
Bucknell remained under pressure, however, trailing 4-2 with half the game remaining. Okita managed to get one run back in the top of the fourth after reaching base on a throwing error by the Raiders' second baseman. Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Okita from second to third, and Mary Horton (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) put runners on the corners by drawing a walk. Fry then connected for an RBI single to the pitcher to put Bucknell within one.
That put the Bison within striking distance for a push in the top of the sixth inning. Snyder and Horton connected for back-to-back singles, and Fry drew her second walk of the game to load the bases with one out. Pavlovich then recorded perhaps the biggest hit of her career with a two-RBI single to put Bucknell back in front 5-4.
Messersmith helped to add an insurance run, flying out to left field. That allowed Fry to score and give Bucknell a key 6-4 advantage.
MacLean nabbed her second win of the day, closing the action out with back-to-back strikeouts. She finished the game with four total strikeouts, allowing one earned run on four hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
O'Connell suffered a second loss, giving up four earned runs on 10 hits in 7.0 innings.
Bucknell must now wait until the NCAA Selection Show at 10 p.m. on Sunday to learn of its next opponent. Fans can join the Bison at Damon's 9:30-10:30 to watch the show on ESPNU.
