Bucknell University
Prairie View A&M
Midyette Leads Bucknell Softball in Split with Prairie View A&M
3/15/2013 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 15, 2013
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - Mariah Midyette connected for two doubles and four RBI, helping Bucknell softball recover from a game-one loss to defeat Prairie View A&M 8-0 (5 inn.) in the second half of a twin bill in Prairie View, Texas, on Friday evening. It was the third time in the last four doubleheaders the Bison (6-13) have split decisions with their opponent. Bucknell dropped Friday's first game against the Panthers 7-1.
Bucknell has not necessarily been known for its power hitting in the last few years, but the Bison combined for five doubles against Prairie View A&M (5-5). Midyette had two of those, both in the second outing, and each one scored two teammates.
The freshman's four RBI is a personal single-game high. Midyette's six doubles and 10 runs batted in on the year are also team highs.
After getting just one run in the top of the first inning in the day's opener, the Bison turned things around quickly in game two. Bucknell plated five runs in the first frame the second time around. Mary Horton and Lauren Swindell led off the game with back-to-back walks, and a stolen base and sacrifice hit put them both in scoring position. Courtney Conover and Midyette followed with consecutive hits, putting Bucknell in front by a score of 3-0.
The Panthers' starting pitcher's day ended at that point, but the Bison got two more runs on back-to-back walks and an RBI single off the bat of Laura Sandford.
At the end of the first inning, Bucknell had sent 10 to the plate and had three hits and four walks to account for the offensive outburst.
The Bison were relatively quiet in the next two innings before walks and another Midyette double put them in position to shorten the game. Just as had been the case at the start of the contest, Horton and Swindell reached base on walks. Horton was caught stealing, but Bucknell kept two runners on the base paths as Kristen Zahn singled to keep the offense moving. The Bison took the 8-0 lead as Midyette's double scored Swindell and Zahn.
Midyette finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored to go along with her four RBI. Zahn also posted a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-2 with a run after coming off the bench.
Keeping the Panthers at bay was Bucknell pitcher Dana Nielsen, who improved to 2-6 on the season. The freshman earned her second complete-game shutout of the season by allowing four hits, striking out three and walking two.
Taking the loss for Prairie View A&M was Meah Maddox (0-2). Maddox gave up four runs on two hits in 0.1 innings of work. Lauren Grun finished the game for the Panthers, allowing four runs on eight hits. The duo combined to give up seven walks and struck out two.
Nielsen's fellow freshman pitcher Amanda Fazio had less luck in game one when she went 2.2 innings and gave up five earned runs on seven hits. Despite the short outing, however, she still struck out five batters.
Prairie View A&M started the trend of big first innings as it scored three runs right out of the gates to start the day. The Panthers recorded three hits and got some help from the Bison, who committed two fielding errors, in the frame.
Three more runs in the third inning, including a two-RBI single from Peyton Simms, made it 6-1 in favor of Prairie View A&M. Simms and Alis Navarro registered hits in both the Panthers' big innings. Navarro finished the game 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBI at the plate, while Simms was 3-for-4 with one run scored and a trio of RBI.
Although Bucknell managed only one run in the loss, the Bison had their chances. They left 11 on base, including nine in scoring position. Two of those stranded on second base was Conover, who hit 2-for-3 with a double in the opening contest.
The Panthers' Cally Falls (4-2) earned the win. Falls did not allow an earned run and gave up five hits in her complete game. She also struck out seven.
Bucknell will wrap up its Spring Break trip in Texas tomorrow against Texas Southern in Houston. Game time for the doubleheader has been changed to noon eastern.
