Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Softball Rallies in Second Game, Splitting Doubleheader with First-Place Lehigh
4/12/2014 7:37:00 PM | Softball
Game One: Lehigh 7, Bucknell 1
Game Two: Bucknell 2, Lehigh 0
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The third-place Bucknell softball team battled through two marathon games with first-place Lehigh on Saturday afternoon, rallying back from a 7-1 defeat in the first contest of the day to take a 2-0 win in the second. The two squads will complete the three-game series on Sunday with a single contest that has crucial implications for the Patriot League standings, as the Bison sit just one win behind the Mountain Hawks. Bucknell improved to 15-17 overall and 7-4 in conference action with the split decision, while Lehigh now sits at 19-15 overall and 8-3 in Patriot League play.
“Lehigh is a great team,” reflected head coach Bonnie Skrenta at the end of the day. “We had to fight, and while we played some really complete innings, what the win in the second game came down to was Colie's clutch hitting. Putting those two runs on the board gave Lara a bit of a cushion, and she only gave up two hits to a really strong offense. We have a lot of respect for Lehigh and we were able to stay tough through two lengthy games. Our batters were patient, they worked counts and I'm really happy with the end result.”
Bucknell registered two hits to Lehigh's one in the first three innings of the opening game, but it was the Mountain Hawks that worked their way onto the board first, scoring twice in the top of the fourth inning. With an out and a walk recorded, Lehigh's Emily Bausher sent a ball sailing into left field, where it just snuck over the fence for a two-run home run and the lead.
The Bison responded in the bottom of the fifth however, tightening up the score when senior Mallory Lyons, who reached on a single to left field, scored on an RBI double by junior Cydnee Sanders, narrowing the Mountain Hawks lead to 2-1.
Things changed drastically in the top of the sixth however, as Lehigh answered Bucknell's rally with a five-run stanza. The Bison recorded two quick outs, as sophomore Dana Nielsen struck out the first batter and Lyons caught a pop-up to put away the second, but six straight singles by the Mountain Hawks completely changed the tune of the inning. Sophomore Cindy Cherness relieved Nielsen with three runs scored and a runner on base, but Lehigh managed to bring in two more tallies, taking a 7-1 lead over Bucknell that would stand through the rest of the contest.
Nielsen, who leads the Patriot League in strikeouts, received the loss from the pitching circle, allowing six earned runs and nine hits in 5.2 innings of action. The sophomore also struck out four and only walked one. Cherness appeared for 1.1 innings of relief, allowing one earned run and three hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Never a team to give up quickly however, the Bison bounced back to put together an incredibly strong showing in the second game of the day. After two quiet innings to open the contest, the Mountain Hawks broke through with a single and advanced a runner to third with one out, but strong fielding by the Bison ended the top of the third with the score knotted at zero.
Bucknell made its move in the bottom of the stanza, beginning with back-to-back singles by Lyons and Sanders, putting runners on first and second. Skrenta brought junior Colie Escobar in to pinch hit, and the move proved to be the game-changer, as Escobar sent a shot into center field for a two-RBI double, bringing both Lyons and Sanders across home plate and giving the Bison a two-run lead.
Freshman pitcher Lara Bean gave up just one hit and didn't allow a Mountain Hawk past first base in their next three at-bats, and the Bison threatened to add another run to their tally when sophomore Mariah Midyette recorded a double to center field in the bottom of the sixth, but the score remained 2-0 in favor of Bucknell as the teams headed into the seventh stanza.
Lehigh made things interesting in its final opportunity at the plate however, beginning when two walks put runners on first and second. With the tying run on base, Skrenta pulled sophomore Amanda Fazio, who has been injured for the past month, out of the bullpen, and the first batter she faced reached on a fielder's choice, advancing a runner to third. Fazio hit Lehigh's Morgan Decker with the next pitch, loading the bases, and had pitched a full count to Bausher before she connected, sending a shot into right center where junior Kristen Zahn made a sliding catch to end the inning and preserve the 2-0 shutout win.
Bean earned the victory with her performance, improving to 6-3 on the season, and pitched 6.1 innings during which she allowed just two hits, struck out three and walked seven. Fazio came through for the save in her return to action, facing three batters.
The Bison and the Mountain Hawks will conclude their three-game series with a single game at Becker Field on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. Live stats will be available and the game will be broadcast on WVBU 90.5 and BucknellBison.com with Danny Will on the call.
