Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
St. Peter's
Bison Softball Hangs on for Win Over Saint Peter's to Split at Rebel Spring Games
3/15/2012 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 15, 2012
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Bucknell softball claimed a 5-2 win over Saint Peter's at the Rebel Spring Games on Thursday afternoon, giving the Bison (5-8) their third victory in four games. Bridget Gates earned the pitching win and Laura Sandford finished 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI in the successful effort against the Peahens. Bucknell also took a 2-0 loss to Nebraska-Omaha earlier in the day.
After opening the day with a loss to the Mavs (9-8), the Bison bounced back and led the entire way against the Peahens (1-11). Despite threatening in the first inning, Bucknell had to wait until the second to get on the board. Sandford put a double into left center field and scored two batters later on an RBI single from Kasey Segiel. The Bison loaded the bases before the final out, but the one run was all they got until their next turn.
Saint Peter's struggled defensively in the third inning, resulting in two more runs for Bucknell. A fielding error and two walks loaded the bases again with no outs. A second error set the score at 3-0 in favor of the Bison.
Although Bucknell led by three, Saint Peter's was getting its opportunities offensively as well. The Peahens recorded one hit in each of the first four innings. They were finally able to string together some hits in the fifth, which ended Gates' second straight shutout bid. Alexis Gallagher tripled to left field to plate the first run for Saint Peter's. She later came home on a groundout, bringing the Peahens to within a single score at 3-2.
After recording her second double of the game in the fifth inning, Sandford struck for a third time with a two-RBI single in the sixth. The shot up the middle gave Bucknell its ultimate 5-2 advantage by scoring Mary Horton and Cydnee Sanders.
Horton closed out the game 1-for-2 with three walks offensively, while Sanders was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Horton was also 2-for-3 earlier in the day against Nebraska-Omaha, bringing her season average to .300.
Gates (2-3) earned her second win in as many days after allowing the two runs on seven hits. The junior struck out three and did not give up a walk to the Peahens. Erica Colon took the loss for Saint Peter's after allowing three earned runs on nine hits. She struck out five but walked eight.
Pitching turned out to be a key part of the story in Bucknell's first game of the day. The Bison and the Mavs combined for 14 strikeouts, six for Alex MacLean and eight for Kat Barrow. Half of MacLean's strikeouts came in the first two innings before Nebraska-Omaha tagged her for three hits and its only two runs in the third frame. Tonya Peterson and Lauren Larson both reached on singles, and Katelyn Hinton drove them in with a double down the left line.
The Mavs put runners in scoring position twice more in the game after that, but they were unable to increase their lead. Insurance runs proved to be unnecessary, however. Bucknell totaled three hits in the contest, two from Horton and a third from Cassie Greenhawk. Horton's first was an outfield single in the first at-bat of the game. The Bison bats were then kept quiet until the sixth when Greenhawk led off the inning with a single up the middle. Horton followed with a single to shortstop. Neither Bucknellian could get past second base.
It was the fourth time this season the Bison have been shut out. MacLean (2-5) gave up eight hits and walked only one in addition to her six strikeouts. Barrow (4-3) earned the win.
Bucknell will wrap up competition at the Rebel Spring Games tomorrow. After facing Wagner at 9 a.m. on Friday, the Bison will take on Youngstown State at 11 a.m. in their finale.
