Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Drexel
Dragons' Power Too Much for Bucknell Softball in 7-2 Decisions
3/28/2012 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 28, 2012
| BUY PHOTOS
PHILADELPHIA - Freshman Nikki Silva (Milford, Mass./Mount St. Charles Academy) connected for her first career home run, and fellow underclassmen Mallory Lyons (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) and Colie Escobar (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) each drove in a run as Bucknell softball took on Drexel on the road in a midweek matchup on Wednesday. The Bison (5-14) fell short of a win in the doubleheader, however, dropping both games by a score of 7-2. They will now turn their attention to their 2012 home and Patriot League opener slated for this weekend against Colgate at Becker Field.
Bucknell continued to get much of its offensive production from the youthful half of its roster. Silva broke up the no-hitter bid in the second game with her solo shot to left center field in the fifth inning. Fellow rookie Cydnee Sanders (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia West) later drew a walk and, after making her way around the bases with some small ball strategies, eventually scored on a passed ball.
Sanders' run came in the top of the sixth inning, but Drexel (12-13) blew things open in the bottom half of the frame. Bucknell had drawn to within a score of 3-2 before the Dragons scored four runs in the sixth. They sent 10 batters to the plate and recorded four hits in the inning. The outburst set the score at the final 7-2.
Included in Drexel's half of the sixth inning was a single from Hanna Parrish. Parrish closed out the second game 4-for-4 at the plate, including triples in each of her first two at-bats. She also scored three runs in the outing.
Maddison Timoteo also had a home run and two hit-by-pitches for Drexel in the nightcap. The sophomore was one of three Dragons to connect for a homer as Paige Collings also put one over the fence and Jenn Reading recorded two home runs in game one. Reading finished her outing 2-for-3 with three RBI.
On Bucknell's side, Lyons RBI came early as she drove in Kristen Zahn (Readington, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional) in the first inning. After Zahn reached base on a walk, Lyons put a double into left center field with two outs to score her teammate.
Although Laura Sandford (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) earned another double for the Bison in the second inning, Bucknell was unable to get back on the scoreboard until the fourth. Bridget Gates (Milford, Conn./Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall) drew a leadoff walk. She later scored with some help from a pair of outfield singles from Courtney Conover (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) and Escobar. It was Escobar's hit to left field that brought Gates home and made the score 3-2.
With the Bison threatening, the Dragons responded in the bottom half of the fourth inning and gave themselves some breathing room with a three-run effort. Two of those came on Collings' homer, while the third were the result of a groundout from Devon Metcalf. All three of Drexel's runs in the fourth were unearned.
Gates (2-5) took the loss for Bucknell in game one. The junior went 4.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits. She also struck out two, while MacLean had three strikeouts to go with one earned run on two hits in 2.0 innings of relief. Game two gave the loss to MacLean. She gave up four earned runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings.
Earning the wins for Drexel were Hillary Allen (7-6) in game one and Shelby Taylor (5-6) in game two. Drexel's pitchers combined to allow three earned runs and six hits in the two contests. They also had 17 total strikeouts, including 11 for Taylor.
