Bucknell University
Drexel
Bucknell Softball Falls to Drexel in Pair of 3-1 Losses
3/27/2013 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2013
| BUY PHOTOS
LEWISBURG, Pa. - After being on the road for its first 21 games, Bucknell softball was happy to be at Becker Field but the Bison's home debut did not go in their favor as they fell 3-1 in both games of a doubleheader against Drexel on Wednesday afternoon. Cydnee Sanders hit a combined 5-for-6 with both of Bucknell's runs to lead the team's offense.
Sanders kicked off her day going 3-for-3 at the plate in game one. Her first time up, the sophomore led off the second inning with a surprise bunt and got herself to second with a stolen base. Although she was stranded on the base paths after each of her first two singles, Sanders eventually came home in the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff triple paid off for the Bison (6-17) as she scored on a groundout from Cheyanna Young.
That was Bucknell's only run of the contest, although it equaled Drexel (10-18) with five hits apiece. Mary Horton was the only other Bison to register a base hit, going 2-for-3.
The Dragons did all of their damage in the third inning, but much of that was with some help from the Bison. Two fielding errors and a pair of hits allowed all three runs to score in the frame. Jenn Reading got herself two RBI with a two-out double. Bucknell recovered defensively for the rest of the game. Drexel had five more base runners in the final four innings and only two of those got into scoring position.
Despite getting saddled with the loss, Bucknell pitcher Amanda Fazio (4-8) ended her day with no earned runs on five hits. She struck out two and did not give up a walk. Tara Konopka (6-8) earned the win for Drexel with one run on five hits and four strikeouts to go along with one base on balls. Both pitchers went the whole 7.0 innings.
Game two followed a somewhat similar trend with Drexel striking hard in the third inning. This time the Dragons were coming back from an early deficit, however, after the Bison scored in the bottom of the second. Playing in catch-up mode, Reading tallied her second RBI double of the day to plate both runs and put Drexel in front 2-1.
The Dragons got themselves an insurance run in the sixth inning, setting the final score at 3-1 for the second time that day.
Bucknell's offense in the nightcap came early with Sanders leading off the second inning with another base hit. A sacrifice bunt and a ground out put the infielder on third base. Lauren Swindell then drove her home with a single to the second baseman that took a funny hop.
That was the only run surrendered by Rose Portiolli, who also gave up four all of Bucknell's hits. She and Shelby Trotter combined for eight strikeouts. The Bison's Dana Nielsen dropped to 2-8 on the year. The freshman was credited with all three runs. She also struck out seven, one shy of the career high she set in her last outing at Texas Southern.
Bucknell will return to the field this weekend to open its Patriot League schedule against Lehigh. The Bison and the Mountain Hawks square off at Becker Field at 1 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday. Both of Sunday's games will broadcast live at SportsJuice.com.
