Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Presbyterian
Bucknell Softball Comes Back for 7-5 Win over James Madison, Falls 8-3 vs. Presbyterian
2/19/2012 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 19, 2012
ELON, N.C. - After opening the day with shutout victory over Elon, Bucknell softball split its final two games of the night starting with an 8-3 loss to Presbyterian. The Bison then came from behind for a 7-5 win over James Madison after Mallory Lyons hit a grand slam in the top of a six-run seventh inning. Bucknell returns to action for the final game of the Phoenix Softball Clash at 11:45 a.m. when they take on Elon for a second time.
Bucknell (2-1) trailed James Madison 5-1 heading into the seventh inning. Kasey Segiel got things started with a single down the right field line and scored two batters later on an RBI single from Kristen Zahn. The next two batters - Mary Horton and Cydnee Sanders - both reached on errors to load the bases with one out. That brought Lyons to the plate, who connected for her first career home run. The sophomore's shot to left field plated four runners and put the Bison in front 7-5.
Bucknell sent 11 players to the plate in the seventh inning, which was prolonged by three fielding errors for James Madison (2-1). The Dukes hit for a single in the bottom of the inning but left the runner stranded on first after Courtney Conover got Haley Johnson to strike out swinging to end the game.
Conover (1-0) earned the win in her first career decision. She gave up two hits and did not allow a run in 2.2 innings of relief. The sophomore took over for MacLean who allowed five runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings of work. It was MacLean's second appearance of the day after she earned the win over Elon on Saturday morning.
Reba DePriest (0-1) took the loss for James Madison. Only one of the six runs she was credited with was earned. She gave up five hits and struck out two in 6.1 innings of work. Sarah Mooney gave up the grand slam in her 0.2 inning relief appearance.
Lyons was 1-for-3, while Zahn was 2-for-3 at the plate. Zahn also had two runs scored and an RBI against the Dukes.
The comeback was just what Bucknell needed after it dropped the second game of the day by a score of 8-3 to Presbyterian. A rough start for the Bison gave the Blue Hose a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Bucknell drew closer in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a pair of RBIs from Erin Cox and Bridget Gates. Gates' single to left field made it 3-2, but the Bison closed out the inning with back-to-back strikeouts and could get no closer.
Presbyterian's lead grew in the second has Leslie Hensley hit a solo home run. Hensley connected for her second homer of the game later in the sixth inning. That turned out to be a three-run shot and put the Blue Hose in front by a score of 7-2.
All three runs in the sixth were credited to Conover, who entered the game in relief after Gates lasted just 2.0 innings in her first appearance. Gates returned to get the final out in the sixth and allowed one more run in the seventh inning.
Bucknell's final run of the outing against the Blue Hose came after Sanders singled to right field. She later scored on a fielding error by the Presbyterian shortstop.
Gates (0-1) took the loss, allowing 10 hits and five earned runs in 3.1 total innings of work. She also struck out two. Kensley Loudermelk (1-0) claimed the win for Presbyterian with one earned run and four hits allowed. She struck out seven in 6.0 innings.
After the first day of competition, Horton was 4-for-11 (.364) at the plate with two doubles and two runs batted in. Lyons and Zahn were both 3-for-8 (.375) to lead Bucknell offensively.
