Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Cornell
Bison Softball Ends Losing Streak with 4-1 Win Over Cornell
3/13/2011 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2011
FAIRFAX, Va. - The Bison offense sparked to life against Cornell at the Mason Invite, sending Bucknell softball to a 4-1 win at the George Mason Softball Complex on Sunday morning. The Bison (2-11) connected for a season-high 11 hits in the contest, ending an 11-game losing streak.
Contributing to the cause was Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield). Fry went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double. With 143 career hits, the senior is now tied with Lauren Litts for 10th all-time at Bucknell. The two-base hit was also the 30th of her career, improving her ranking to sixth in the program record books.
Fry's double put her in scoring position right from the start in the first inning. She came home on an error as Alison Ford (Suisun City, Calif./Fairfield) hit a high fly ball to shallow left field. The outfielder dropped the ball, allowing Fry to give Bucknell a 1-0 lead.
Bucknell added another un in the top of the second inning. Laura Sandford (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) recorded a short single that dropped into the gap between the left fielder and shortstop. After stealing second base, Sandford scored on an RBI single up the middle from Sam Rollandi (San Carlos, Calif./Notre Dame Belmont).
The third inning produced more scoring for Bucknell, which was shut out in both of its games yesterday. Kathryn Wilkinson (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) led off with an outfield single. Replacing Wilkinson on the base paths, Caryn Connors (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Fry and scored on a bloop double from Ford.
Ford's run came home on the next batter. Kara Sullivan (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River) singled up the middle for her first RBI of the season.
The Bison's offensive push came after a strong outing from the Big Red's starting pitcher Lauren Marx, who struck out four batters in the first two innings. The hits flowed more easily after that. Ford, Sullivan and Wilkinson each went 2-for-4 at the plate.
A Bison hiccup in the second inning was the only opportunity Cornell was able to take advantage of. Ali Tomlinson doubled with one out. She scored on a single down the left field line from Cassie Walisiak.
Bridget Gates (Milford, Conn./Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall) earned her first win of the season, bringing her record to 1-4. The sophomore allowed one run on five hits. She walked just one batter and did not strike out a batter. The win for the team was its first since the season opener that ended in a 4-0 shutout of James Madison.
Marx took the loss for the Big Red after being chased from the game with just 3.0 innings of work under her belt. She allowed four runs, two of them earned, on six hits. Tomlinson did not allow a run but gave up five hits in 4.0 innings of relief.
Bucknell will be back in action later today for a 1:30 p.m. matchup with George Mason.
