Softball Wraps Up Chanticleer Showdown with a Pair of Wins

CONWAY, S.C. – The Bucknell softball team bounced back with two wins on the final day of the Chanticleer Showdown, hosted by Coastal Carolina on Saturday and Sunday. The Bison finished the event 2-2 and head back to campus with an overall record of 7-5.

Bucknell started the day with a 9-1 win over Sacred Heart, and followed that with a thrilling 4-3, 10-inning victory over Murray State. The Pioneers fell to 0-4 on the season, while the Racers, who followed with a win over Coastal Carolina, finished the day with a season record of 8-5.

The Bison will head to Baltimore for the UMBC Classic on Saturday and Sunday. They will play two games against Cornell and two against UMBC.

Bucknell 9, Sacred Heart 1

Junior Amanda Fazio did it all for the Bison in a 9-1 win over Sacred Heart. She went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, stole three bases, and went the distance in the circle to pick up her third win of the season.

Fazio allowed one unearned run in her six innings of work. Two of the first three hitters of the game reached on fielding errors, but the veteran pitcher limited the damage to the lone run. She went on to strike out eight batters and didn't allow a walk.

“I was proud of the way the team didn't let things get away from them after the two early errors,” said Bucknell head coach Bonnie Skrenta. “They were focused and kept their head in the game.”

Senior Erin Cox tied the game for the Bison with a leadoff home run in the top of the second inning. It was her third homer of the season.

The Bison pulled away with their four-run fifth inning. The scoring outburst was highlighted by a three-run shot by Meghan Kovac. It was the freshman's first career home run.

Kovac went 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Senior Cydnee Sanders finished 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Fazio's three stolen bases give her 10 for the season.

Bucknell 4, Murray State 3 (10 innings)

Sophomore Chaylen Andolino scored on a ball hit by freshman Madeline Minneci in the bottom of the 10^th inning to give the Bison their second win of the day, 4-3 over Murray State.

Andolino, who was placed on second to start the inning due to international tiebreaker rules, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cox. With two outs, Minneci put the ball in play and helped rush a throw on a bang-bang play at first, allowing Andolino to score the game-winning run.

Junior Dana Nielsen started and went 6 2/3 innings in the circle for the Bison. She allowed three runs on three hits, didn't issue a walk and struck out one batter. Fazio notched her second win of the day and fourth of the season after pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. She didn't give up a hit, walked one and struck out one.

“Dana pitched a great game for us,” Skrenta said. “She had complete control of her pitches today. And Amanda came in and really showed poise to help us get the win in extra innings.”

Bucknell jumped out to a 3-0 lead with one run in the second and two in the third. Cheyanna Young delivered an RBI single in the second, while Kristen Zahn smacked a two-run home run in the third.

Fazio was nearly an impossible out during the tournament, going 8-for-10. Kovac came through with the clutch hits, driving in six runs. Sanders finished with five hits in 14 at-bats.