Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Army
Bucknell Falls 3-2 to Army in PL Tournament Opener
5/9/2013 8:00:00 AM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bucknell softball suffered a 3-2 loss to Army in its first Patriot League Tournament game at Kaufman Field on Thursday afternoon. The Bison (20-29) nearly staged a comeback midway through the opening contest, but the Black Knights' (32-23) early lead proved too much to overcome despite a wealth of extra-base hits. Bucknell will now take on fourth-seeded Colgate tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. in a must-win situation at the double-elimination tournament.
A rough second inning for Bucknell spelled the difference against Army (32-23). The Black Knights scored three runs in the frame off five singles and a bases-loaded walk. Bernadette Cordon put a base hit through the right side to plate two runs and Amanda Nguyen logged the third RBI with the walk.
Bucknell pitcher Amanda Fazio got out of trouble by getting Christian McKone to line into a double play that caught Cardone too far off third base. By that time, however, the Bison found themselves in the early 3-0 hole.
Nguyen eventually collected her 77th hit of the season, going 1-for-2 on the day. The leftfielder needs one more hit to tie the Patriot League record.
The Bison made up some ground in the fourth as Erin Cox and Colie Escobar both doubled to left field. Cox put a shot off the outfielder's outstretched glove She then came home on Escobar's extra-base hit to a nearly identical spot.
Bucknell drew within a run on some more power hitting. Cheyanna Young singled to left field, driving in Escobar, and advanced to second on the throw to the plate.
Of Bucknell's six hits, three of them were doubles. Army totaled nine hits, all of them singles. Thursday's game was the fourth this season against the Black Knights to be decided by two runs or fewer.
Army had an opportunity to extend its lead past that one-run differential in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Black Knights loaded the bases twice in the fifth and came up empty both times. A play at the plate after a comeback shot to the pitcher erased one base runner and Dana Nielsen got Marina Northup to fly out to left to get out of trouble.
Earning the win for Army was Morgan Lashley (26-11). The pitcher gave up both runs on six hits in her complete game. She also had three strikeouts.
Fazio (10-14) took the loss for Bucknell, giving up three runs on seven hits. She also struck out three and walked one in her 4.1 innings of work. Nielsen entered the game in relief, pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless two-hit softball.
In the first game of the day, top-seeded Lehigh defeated Colgate 3-1. Lehigh and Army will square off in Friday's first contest at noon as games have been moved up in anticipation of rain.
