Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Sandford's RBI Single in Extra Innings Gives Bison Softball 4-3 Win over Holy Cross
4/20/2012 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 20, 2012
| BUY PHOTOS
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Laura Sandford (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) put a bases-loaded single into right-center field to score Cydnee Sanders (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia West) and give Bucknell softball a 4-3 win in nine innings against Holy Cross at Becker Field on Friday afternoon. The victory gave the Bison their first Patriot League win of the year and improved their record to 7-32 overall and 1-13 in the league although they lost the opening contest 6-1.
Bucknell put together some late heroics in game two to pull out the win against Holy Cross (8-28, 3-11 PL). After trailing 3-1 for much of the game, the Bison scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. After a scoreless eighth and an impressive double play to end the top of the ninth, Bucknell loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the frame.
Sanders doubled to right center field to get the offensive push going, and the Crusaders intentionally walked Mary Horton (Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas), who was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI at that point in the game. Playing in her final series on her home field, senior Meredith Dickson (Fogelsville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) loaded the bases with a hard-hit infield single that took a funny hop on the shortstop. That brought Sandford to the plate. The junior dropped a base hit into the outfield and plated Sanders.
Sandford finished game two 2-for-5 with two RBI, although she was also 3-for-3 in game one. Together, Horton, Dickson and Sandford went 7-for-13 in the top three spots in the batting order and accounted for all four RBI in the nightcap.
As key as the Bison's offense was in the ninth inning, they would not have even gotten to that point if it weren't for the clutch hitting in the bottom of the seventh. Bucknell had trailed Holy Cross 2-1 since the third, but that changed in their last chance at the plate. Alex Wells (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) got things rolling with a single up the middle. She was replaced on the base paths by the pinch running Kasey Segiel (Murraysville, Pa./Franklin Regional), who eventually scored as Horton legged out a triple hit to the right-center field gap. This time it was Horton who scored to knot things up at 3-3 as Dickson singled up the middle.
The win in game two snapped a 14-game conference losing streak that dated back to the end of last season. Helping Bucknell to the victory in the pitching circle was Bridget Gates (Milford, Conn./Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall). Gates entered the game in the third inning, relieving Courtney Conover (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) and pitched 6.1 innings of one-hit shutout softball. Gates also struck out three and did not allow a walk.
Camille Trainor, who was also pitching in relief, took the loss with three runs allowed on nine hits in 7.1 innings of work.
Trainor replaced Julia Barrett at the start of the second inning in game two. Although Barrett did not last long in the second contest, she earned the pitching win in the opener without allowing an earned run in the complete game.
Bucknell's offense was not quite as potent to start the day. Holy Cross put up two runs in the top of the first inning after some shaky defense. The Bison tried to respond with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning. The game stayed close until the final two innings when the Crusaders added a run in the sixth and three more in the seventh. Holy Cross tallied six of their 12 hits in the final two innings, and Trainor ended up with two hits, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base during that stretch. Those were her only two hits of the day.
Trainor registered a double during her late-game offensive push, but she was not the only one with a two-base hit in the game. Dickson, Horton and Sandford also had doubles for the Bison in the contest. Dickson's double eventually led to Bucknell's only run in the game as she scored when Wells reached base on a fielding error with the bases loaded in the first inning.
Although she took the loss, Bucknell pitcher Alex MacLean (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) looked sharp for much of the game. The junior gave up four runs on 12 hits, but struck out seven batters in 6.1 innings of work.
Bucknell will have even less rest than usual before it returns to the field. Due to impending weather, the final two games of the Bucknell-Holy Cross series have been moved up to 9 a.m. tomorrow. Dickson will be recognized prior to the games for Senior Day.
