Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
James Madison
MacLean Shuts Out James Madison to Give Bucknell Softball 4-0 Win in Season Opener
2/18/2011 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 18, 2011
CONWAY, S.C. - Freshman Mallory Lyons (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) scored on wild pitch in the second inning and the Bison put three insurance runs on the scoreboard in the seventh as Bucknell shut out James Madison 4-0 in their season opener at the Coastal Carolina Kickin' Chicken Classic on Friday afternoon. Alex MacLean (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) held the Dukes in check, allowing just two hits and striking out six in her complete game effort.
James Madison (1-1) struggled to get much offense going from the start as MacLean (1-0) retired the side in each of the first two innings and had given up just one hit heading into the bottom or the seventh. Only two baserunners advanced to scoring position - once in the third inning and again in the seventh - but the Bison (1-0) defense kept them at bay.
MacLean's six strikeouts against the Dukes bring her to 98 for her career. The sophomore is now 15 shy of entering the program's all-time top 10. The shutout was also the fourth of her career, putting her two away from the top five.
Lyons sparked Bucknell's offense by reaching on a fielder's choice in the top of the second inning. She then got some help from fellow rookie Sophia Geraci (East Moriches, N.Y./Westhampton Beach) who singled to right field in her first career at-bat. Lyons later came home when a pitch got away from James Madison's Brittany Jeans, and Bucknell took a 1-0 lead.
Bucknell looked as if it might take the victory by the narrowest of margins until its offense made some more noise in the seventh inning. Sam Rollandi (San Carlos, Calif./Notre Dame Belmont) led off the frame with a triple down the right line, and Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central) and Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) both drew walks to load the bases. A third walk, this time to Alison Ford (Suisun City, Calif./Fairfield), forced in a run for 2-0.
Colmenero scored on the next batter as Lyons reached on a fielder's choice. It wasn't long before the bases were full of Bison again as Kathryn Wilkinson (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) was hit by a pitch and Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) got on base thanks to an error by the James Madison second baseman. The miscue allowed Fry to come home, and the Bison closed out the scoring 4-0.
Despite having four innings between scores, Bucknell had plenty of opportunities. The Bison left 10 on base in the game despite recording just three hits.
Rollandi finished the outing 1-for-2 at the plate with a walk and a run in addition to her extra-base hit. Lyons, Fry and Colmenero also scored although the trio combined to go 0-for-8 with four walks.
Jeans (0-1) took the loss in the pitching circle. The freshman gave up three runs on three hits. She also struck out four batters but walked six.
Ashley Burnham and Lori Botkin, who pinch hit in the seventh inning, recorded the two hits for the Dukes.
Bucknell will play again today it takes on the host of the Kickin' Chicken Classic. First pitch against Coastal Carolina is set for approximately 6:30 p.m.
