Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Stony Brook
Midyette Homers but Bucknell Softball Falls 4-3 to Stony Brook in Extras
2/24/2013 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 24, 2013
FARMVILLE, Va. - For the third time in seven games this season, Bucknell softball forced a game into extra innings, but Sunday's matchup with Stony Brook at the Longwood Spring Classic went to the Seawolves 4-3 in the eighth. The Bison, which are 1-6 on the year, will get a chance at a rematch with Longwood later today at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Stony Brook went up 3-0 after three innings before Bucknell began to chip away at the lead. Cydnee Sanders drew a walk to lead off the top of the fourth and eventually scored on a wild pitch from the Seawolves' Jane Sallen. That was just the second earned run in two games Stony Brook had allowed to Bucknell.
The Bison did even more damage in the sixth inning when Mariah Midyette, who had helped move Sanders around the bases earlier with a sacrifice bunt, connected for a slightly longer hit. The freshman put a shot over the left center field fence. That made it a 3-3 game as Cassie Greenhawk also came home on the play.
Greenhawk had bunted for a single to get the offense rolling in the first. It was the second time in the game the senior had reached base as she had also reached on a throwing error in the third. Greenhawk finished the game 1-for-3 with a run scored. Midyette closed out her day 1-for-2 at the plate with two RBI on the home run. It was the first home run of the season for Bucknell.
The 3-3 score held through the next frame, pushing the game to extra innings for the third time in two tournaments. With the international tie break rule in effect, Bucknell started off the eighth with Amanda Fazio on second base. The freshman advanced to third on a ground out but couldn't make it home on a bunt, getting thrown out at the plate.
The Seawolves capitalized on their opportunities in the bottom half of the eighth. The runner placed on second, Nicole Hagerty, scored on a sacrifice fly and a single through the right side from Jessica Zeilman to give Stony Brook the walk-off win.
Zeilman, who was 2-for-4, was one of two Seawolves to finish with multiple hits in the game. Shayla Giosia also hit 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Sallen earned the win for Stony Brook, allowing all three earned runs on three hits in 6.0 innings of work. She also struck out five and walked on. Cindy Cherness took the loss for Bucknell. The freshman gave up just one run, the game-winner in the eighth, in 2.2 innings of relief. She also had four of the team's five strikeouts.
Bucknell will play again later today, taking on Longwood, which won a 7-0 decision in the Bison's second game yesterday.
