Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
George Mason
Late Rally Sends Bucknell Softball to 3-1 Victory Over George Mason
3/13/2011 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2011
FAIRFAX, Va. - An over-the-head catch at the center-field wall followed by a two-out double in the fifth by Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) sent Bucknell softball to its second win of the day as the Bison defeated George Mason 3-1 at the Mason Invitational on Sunday afternoon. Fry scored in the top of the fifth inning to break up a scoreless game and give Bucknell (3-11) its first set of back-to-back victories this season.
For the second straight game, Bucknell reached double-digit hits. Against the Patriots, the Bison put 10 hits on the board after totaling 11 earlier in the day against Cornell.
After stranding five runners in scoring position, the Orange and Blue finally cashed in after Fry's double. The senior put the long ball in right field and came home on the next batter when Alison Ford (Suisun City, Calif./Fairfield) singled up the middle for the RBI.
Fry finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles. Including the day's earlier game vs. Cornell, Fry had recorded three two-base hits. That brings her to 31 for her career, which ties her with Angela Stackhouse for fifth all-time at Bucknell.
The fifth inning was just the break Bucknell needed. The Bison put two more runs on the board in the top of the sixth. Mary Horton (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) and a pinch-hitting Meredith Dickson (Fogelsville, Pa./Southern Lehigh) led off with back-to-back singles. Horton couldn't make it to third, however, as Kara Sullivan (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) hit into a fielder's choice.
The Bison still had two runners on base with only one out, and both of them reached scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Sam Rollandi (San Carlos, Calif./Notre Dame Belmont). After some small ball, Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) showed some power with a long double to right centerfield. The shot scored both runs, giving Bucknell a 3-0 lead, but Snyder was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.
Snyder's hit was her first of the game. The infielder had grounded out in her first three at-bats.
With its slim 1-0 lead earlier in the game, Alex MacLean (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) kept George Mason (6-6) in check by retiring the Patriots in order in the bottom of the inning. The sophomore got three groundouts to give her the fourth 1-2-3 frame of the day.
The Patriots had just four base runners in the first six innings with no one advancing past second. Reagan Doiron broke up the shutout with a home run that snuck over the left field wall.
MacLean (2-7) allowed one run on four hits through 7.0 innings. She struck out six batters and walked one. She how has 133 career strikeouts, ranking eighth in program history.
Miranda Cranford took the loss for George Mason. Cranford gave up three runs on eight hits. She struck out four and did not walk a batter in 5.0 innings before giving way to Stephanie Maher. Maher allowed two hits in 2.0 innings of work.
Bucknell will be back in action for the Rebel Spring Games next week. Play in Kissimmee, Fla., kicks off with Butler at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
