Bucknell University
Canisius
Softball Opens Season 2-0 for First Time Since 1997
2/8/2015 1:15:00 AM | Softball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Senior Erin Cox went 4-for-5 with a home run and freshman Taylor Langtry recorded wins in each of her first two games as the Bucknell softball team posted a 2-0 record on the first day of the Cleveland State Dome Tournament on Saturday. The Bison opened the season 2-0 for the first time since 1997.
“I'm super proud of the team tonight. It was a total team effort with great hitting, running and defense,” said third-year Bucknell head coach Bonnie Skrenta. “The pitchers are working together as a team to keep batters off balance. Some key outs were made with double plays. We have an infield that wants the ball hit to them when we need an out.”
Bucknell wraps up play in Cleveland on Sunday with games against Toledo at 8 a.m. and Robert Morris at 1 p.m.
“We had a moment today where we could have been playing not to lose, but our leadership reminded everyone to take it one pitch at a time, 200-feet ahead and we have the lead,” Skrenta said. “They want to play to win.”
Game 1 – Bucknell 9, Canisius 4
Bucknell coach Bonne Skrenta said prior to the season that one of the team's goals was to have quality hitters in the lineup from the leadoff spot all the way to the ninth batter. If the first game of the season is any indication, she may have that as all nine Bison starters had a hit in the team's 9-4 win over Canisius to open the season.
Cox led the way, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, while senior Cydnee Sanders got off to a good start in her quest to repeat as Patriot League batting champion with two hits in four at-bats.
“Our hitters up and down the lineup are creating opportunities to score, and when runners were in scoring position we really capitalized today,” Skrenta said.
The Bison didn't have to wait long before scoring the first run of the season, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Senior Kristen Zahn came through with a two-out RBI single, driving in Sanders, who had singled earlier in the inning.
Bucknell upped its lead to 4-0 with three runs in the top of the third inning. Junior Mariah Midyette highlighted the inning with a one-out single that scored Zahn and Sanders. The Bison had three hits in the frame and had three of their seven stolen bases.
Canisius battled back to tie the game with three runs in the bottom of the third and one in the bottom of the fourth, but Bucknell responded with two runs in the fifth and added three more in the seventh.
Junior Cheyanna Young and Cox drove in one run apiece with a single and double, respectively, in the fifth inning. Cox was up again in the seventh and gave the Bison some breathing room with a two-run shot to center field. Young also had an RBI in the final inning with a sacrifice fly.
Another offensive goal for the Bison this season is to have the leadoff batter reach in at least four of seven innings each game. That was no problem against Canisius as they had the leadoff hitter reach base in six innings.
Langtry entered the game with two on and one out in the fourth inning. She gave up an RBI single, but got out of the inning without any further damage. It was one of only three hits she gave up on her way to improving to 1-0 on the season. She struck out one batter and didn't issue a walk in 3 2/3 innings of work.
Game 2 – Bucknell 8, Bowling Green 4
Zahn, Young, Cox and freshman Meghan Kovac had two hits apiece to lift Bucknell to an 8-4 win over Bowling Green and a 2-0 start to the season. Langtry gave up one run in 2 1/3 innings of relief to notch her second win of the day.
Unlike the first game, Bucknell found itself down a run early against Bowling Green. The Falcons scored in the bottom of the first inning, but the Bison wasted no time in responding, scoring eight runs over the second and third innings.
Young and Cox both had RBI singles in the second inning. Zahn doubled in a run in the third, while freshman Madeline Minneci and Midyette had one RBI apiece to help put Bucknell up 8-1.
Bowling Green closed the gap to 8-4 with two runs in the third and one in the fourth, but junior Amanda Fazio helped stave off any comeback attempt with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. She gave up just one hit and posted her first save of the season.
