Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Ohio State
Bucknell Softball Takes 6-0 Loss to Ohio State, Finishes Season at NCAA Regionals
5/22/2010 8:00:00 AM | Softball
May 22, 2010
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Bucknell softball saw its historic season come to an end, falling 6-0 to Ohio State at Buckeye Field in the NCAA Championships on Saturday afternoon. Alison Ford (Suisun City, Calif./Fairfield) went 2-for-2 with a walk in the outing as the Bison closed out the season at 28-20-1. The Bison faithful can watch Bucknell's matchup against Ohio State on the Big Ten Network at 11:30 p.m. tonight.
Ford produced Bucknell's first offense of the weekend, ripping a single through the left side in the second inning. Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central) advanced the pinch running Lauren Trosch (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh) to second with a sacrifice bunt. Despite the runner in scoring position and only one out, the Bison were unable to put their first run on the board.
Ohio State did not have the same troubles in the top of the third. The Buckeyes had put two runners on base in the first inning, but Bridget Gates (Milford, Conn./Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall) had gotten out of trouble with two consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.
Ohio State capitalized on its opportunities in the third. Alicia Herron and Sam Marder led off the inning with back-to-back home runs. Gates did her best to contain the damage again, getting the next batter to ground out on the first pitch. A single and an RBI triple off the bat of Vanessa Spears, however, gave the Buckeyes a 3-0 lead.
It was the second game in a row Bucknell struggled in the third inning. The Bison also allowed two home runs in the third against California in yesterday's loss.
The trend continued in the bottom of the fourth and the top of the fifth inning. Ford singled up the middle with two outs and was again unable to score. Ohio State scored two more times in the fifth as Marder walked and Courtney Pruner reached on an error. Both eventually came home on a pair of RBI singles to take a 5-0 lead.
Gates left the game after 4.1 innings. The freshman pitcher gave up four earned runs on seven hits. She also walked two and struck out two before handing the ball over to Alex MacLean (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area).
Bucknell continued to try to make its mark in the bottom of the fifth as the Orange and Blue got a handful of baserunners. Sherry Finkel (Morgantown, W. Va./University) singled to shortstop and was replaced on the basepaths by Sam Rollandi (San Carlos, Calif./Notre Dame Belmont). Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) later reached on a fielder's choice and moved over to second on a single blooped into shallow left field. The Buckeyes' defense continued to keep the Bison at bay, however, and Megan Miller held onto her scoreless outing.
Ohio State added another run in the top of the sixth, and Bucknell threatened again in the bottom half of the inning as Mary Pavlovich (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) and Ford drew walks off the reliever Karisa Medrano. Cassie Greenhawk (Oxford, Md./Easton), who pinch ran for Pavlovich, made it to third and Ford advanced to second on a wild pitch, but back-to-back pop outs ended the inning without any runs.
Medrano was again forced to work with Bison on the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. Mary Horton (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) dropped a single into center field to lead off the frame. Snyder followed with a single to third base, just beating out the throw for her first hit of the tournament. Alyssa Okita (Davis, Calif./Davis) reached on a fielder's choice as Horton was forced out at third base for the first out. A double play ended the game and closed out the Bison's season with a 6-0 loss.
The Buckeyes' Miller (14-3) earned the win, allowing no runs on four hits and striking out three in 5.0 innings of work. Gates (12-6) took the loss for Bucknell.
With the 2010 season in the books, Bucknell has left its mark in the record books. In addition to making the first NCAA tournament appearance in program history, the Bison also tied the university record in single-season wins and set high marks in doubles (75), runs scored (249) and RBI (219).
"We came on as strong as we needed to at the end (of the year)," said Rakosik. "We put the ball in play and our pitching came along, especially our young freshman pitchers. It was a great culmination of winning the Patriot League Championships and making the NCAA Tournament."
