Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Softball Slips Against Lehigh, Dropping 2-0 Decision
4/13/2014 4:10:00 PM | Softball
Lehigh 2, Bucknell 0
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Freshman pitcher Lara Bean had one of the best outings of her young career on Sunday afternoon, but the Bucknell softball team struggled offensively, resulting in a 2-0 loss to Lehigh on Becker Field. The Bison, who earned a 2-0 win in Saturday's second game, fell to 15-18 overall and 7-5 in conference action with the defeat, while the Mountain Hawks, who took the series with two victories, improved to 20-15 overall and 9-3 in Patriot League play.
Sunday's contest proved to be a pitching battle, and while Bean was exquisite in the last five innings, Lehigh's Emily Bausher struck out 12 batters in a complete seven-inning outing, allowing the Bison just one hit and one walk. Freshman Jacee Almond recorded Bucknell's only hit, a line drive down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Sophomore Dana Nielsen started the day in the pitching circle for the Bison, and was challenged by a strong Mountain Hawk offense from the start, as the visitors notched two hits in the opening stanza and scored one run on a single to center field. Almond reached on an error and advanced to second in the bottom of the inning, but Bucknell's hopes of tying the contest were dashed by two quick outs.
The Bison defense put two away in the top of the second, but a double by Lehigh's Emma Capetz put a runner in scoring position, and Ashley Cole followed that up with a single to center field, bringing Capetz home and boosting the Mountain Hawk's lead to 2-0. Cole advanced to third on a bunt by Mackenzie Velasquez, prompting head coach Bonnie Skrenta to bring Bean in to relieve Nielsen. The rookie fielded a grounder by the next Lehigh batter, ending the inning and keeping Bucknell within striking distance.
The show belonged to the pitchers for the next two and a half innings, with neither allowing a runner to get on base, but Bean gave up her only hit and walk of the day in the top of the fifth, opening the door for Lehigh to threaten again. Cole walked to start the stanza, and while Velasquz struck out looking, Cole advanced to second on a bunt by Alexis Watanabe. Bean remained cool and composed however, striking out the next two batters that she faced to silence the Mountain Hawks.
Junior Colie Escobar reached on a walk in the bottom of the inning and advanced to second on a fielder's choice, but the Bison offense couldn't find a way to bring her home. Bean struck out the side in the top of the seventh, but Bucknell was unable find an answer for Bausher, allowing Lehigh to escape with the 2-0 win.
Nielsen received the loss, allowing five hits and two earned runs in 1.2 innings of action. Bean was incredibly sold in relief, pitching 5.1 innings during which allowed just one hit while striking out nine and walking only one batter.
“We didn't know what to expect when we brought Lara in that early,” commented Skrenta, “but she was impressive. Giving up just one hit to that team is a great accomplishment, but unfortunately she just didn't have our hitting behind her. Emily Bausher was outstanding and it is too hard to score on a team like that when you record just one hit. It was a great series and I hope we are in a place at the end of the season to see them again.”
Bucknell will not return to Patriot League play until it travels to Colgate on April 26 for a three-game series, but the team will see plenty of non-conference action before then, beginning with a doubleheader at Penn State on Wednesday. The first pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 6 p.m.
