Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Saint Francis (Pa.)
Bucknell Softball Overpowered in Doubleheader Loss at Saint Francis
4/17/2012 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 17, 2012
LORETTO, Pa. - More big innings from its opponent resulted in a pair of losses for Bucknell softball on Tuesday afternoon as the Bison fell 6-0 and 9-1 (6 inn.) to Saint Francis (Pa.) at Red Flash Field. Twice Saint Francis scored four or more runs in a single inning to give it comfortable early leads. Bucknell is now 6-31 on the season.
Bucknell earned its only run of the day in the fifth inning of game two. Alex Wells (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) singled to right field and fellow freshman Erin Cox (La Quinta, Calif./La Quinta) followed with a double to get the offense started. Three batters later, Mary Horton (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) put a base hit into center field to plate Bucknell's run and load the bases with two out. The Bison couldn't keep the production going, however, as they grounded out to end the inning.
At that point, Bucknell trailed 6-1. Saint Francis (19-21) had put its first six runs on the board in the first inning. The Red Flash sent 10 to bat and totaled five hits and two walks in the frame. Three different players earned two-RBI hits, including Taylor Darnielle, who finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI, and Brianna Garcia, who was 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Saint Francis added two more runs in the fifth to go up 8-1 and a walk-off single from Darnielle tagged on a final run in the sixth to end the contest early.
Game one's offense was just as fleeting for Bucknell, which totaled four hits and was shut out for the 15th time this season. The Bison saw its best chance in the fifth inning when they put runners on second and third base. With two outs, however, Bucknell could only ground out to end the inning with nothing to show for its effort. It was the second consecutive inning in which it had stranded two runners. Mallory Lyons (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) had recorded a long single and Tori Robinson (Corona, Calif./Corona Centennial) had drawn a walk in the fourth to get their first runner in scoring position.
After going 1-for-2 with a walk in game one and 0-for-2 with a walk in game two, Robinson has now reached safely in each of her last five contests. That stretch also included a four-game hitting streak.
Saint Francis jumped out to an early lead in game one as well, previewing what was to come later in the day. The Red Flash earned four runs on three hits. Chelsea Rex had a two-out, three-run homer in the first. Saint Francis earned a second two-out home run in the fifth, this one by Karlie Miller, to put it ahead by the final score of 6-0.
Alex MacLean (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) and Courtney Conover (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) both made two appearances and both recorded a loss in the doubleheader. MacLean went a total of 7.0 innings and allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits. She also totaled six strikeouts and six walks. Conover gave up seven runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work.
MacLean has now made 31 appearances in the pitchers' circle this season. That puts the junior one appearance shy of tying the school record held by Christie Wiest. MacLean also has 90 appearances in her career, trailing only Wiest's 117.
Bucknell will return home for its next series. The Bison will host Holy Cross April 21-22. Saturday's action, which begins at 1 p.m., will be preceded by Senior Day and the dedication of the scoreboard at Becker Field. Sunday gets underway at noon with live radio coverage on WVBU 90.5 FM and at SportsJuice.com.
