Bucknell University
Cleveland State
Bucknell Softball Drops 6-2 Extra-Inning Decision at Cleveland State
2/17/2013 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 17, 2013
CLEVELAND - For the second time in the season-opening weekend Bucknell softball went to extra innings, but the matchup with Cleveland State did not go in its favor as it fell 6-2 to the Vikings in the eighth frame at the Krenzler Dome on Sunday afternoon. Despite rallying in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, the Bison saw its record drop to 1-3.
Cleveland State (3-5) scored an unearned run in the top of the second to take the early lead. Dara Toman led off with a double then stole third base, putting her in prime position to come home on a Bucknell fielding error. The Vikings' scoring opportunities were scarce after that as Dana Nielsen and Amanda Fazio held them to three hits for the rest of the game.
Bucknell had four hits through the first six innings. Two of those came in the sixth when Cydnee Sanders recorded her own leadoff double. The sophomore was then thrown out trying to get the extra base. The move proved costly as Cheyanna Young followed two batters later with a double of her own. Bucknell couldn't drive the freshman in and the score remained 1-0 in favor of Cleveland State.
Play went more in the Bison's favor the next frame, however. With runners on second and third, Cassie Greenhawk reached on a fielder's choice. The play was enough for the pinch-running Caryn Connors to score and send the game into extra innings.
Momentum did not stick around for Bucknell in the eighth. A double steal scored Nena Doran and Erica McNew connected for a two-RBI single to give the lead back to Cleveland State, 4-1. Toman, who went 2-for-3 in the game, registered her second hit and it turned out to be a big one as it cleared the fence and put the Vikings in front by five runs.
That knocked Fazio (1-2) from the game after allowing four earned runs on three hits in 2.1 innings of work. The freshman was replaced by Gates, who closed out the day with one hit before getting the final two outs.
Bucknell managed to get one of those runs back in the bottom of the eighth, but a second comeback was not in the cards. Mariah Midyette drove in the second run for the Bison with an infield single, scoring Sanders. Midyette was the sixth Bison to record one hit in the contest.
While Fazio took the loss for Bucknell, Susan Knight (3-0) earned the win for Cleveland State. Knight finished with one earned run on six hits and one strikeout in her complete game.
In the day's earlier game, Bucknell fell 4-1 to Canisius.
Bucknell will return to action next weekend for another four-game set at the Longwood Spring Classic. The Bison will open against Stony Brook (10:30 a.m.) and Longwood (12:30 p.m.) on Saturday and wrap up play Sunday against the same two teams.
