Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Saint Francis
Softball Cools Off Saint Francis with Doubleheader Sweep
3/25/2015 10:28:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Playing on its home field for the first time this season, Bucknell softball swept a doubleheader with Saint Francis on Wednesday at Becker Field. The Bison posted a come-from-behind 5-3 win in the first game, and prevailed 6-1 in six innings in the second contest.
Bucknell improved to 18-10 on the season with the two wins over a Saint Francis team that had won 10 of its past 11 games, including a doubleheader sweep over Maryland. The Red Flash exited at 17-7.
The Bison are scheduled to open Patriot League play against Colgate this weekend. The Raiders will come to Lewisburg for a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday and will wrap up the series with a game at noon on Sunday.
Game 1 – Bucknell 5, Saint Francis 3
Bucknell came out flat after going 12 days since its last game and found itself down 3-0 after two innings, all on unearned runs. But the Bison scored in each of the final four innings to notch the comeback victory.
Amanda Fazio upped her record to 11-4 on the season while going all seven innings for her ninth complete game. She allowed three unearned runs while giving up seven hits and two walks. She struck out five and lowered her season ERA to 2.94.
Fazio shrugged off the early miscues to give the Bucknell lineup a chance to overcome the deficit. The Bison got on the board in the bottom of the third after Carolyn Wan singled and eventually scored on a throwing error to trim the deficit to two runs.
The Bison tacked on another unearned run in the fourth. Kristen Zahn led off with a double down the right field line and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Meghan Kovac. Jacee Almond followed with a walk and then stole second, allowing Zahn to score when the catcher's throw sailed into center field.
Bucknell took a 4-3 lead with two runs in the fifth inning. Wan led off with a walk and scored the game-tying run on a single by Maddie Minneci, who then scored the go-ahead run on an error. The Bison added an insurance run in the sixth on another Red Flash error.
Blaire Lauthers, who has a 1.43 ERA in 37 2/3 innings this season, took the loss after giving up two unearned runs in two innings of relief.
The Bison had six hits in the game, including a double by Almond off the top of the wall in left center. Zahn also doubled, while Fazio, Minneci and Wan all had singles.
Game 2 – Bucknell 6, Saint Francis 1 (6 innings)
Dana Nielsen pitched great in the second game of the doubleheader, leading the Bison to a win in a contest that was called after six innings due to darkness. She went the distance, giving up one run on two hits and no walks while striking out five batters. She is now 4-2 on the season with a 3.21 ERA.
With the score tied 1-1 after three innings, Bucknell broke the game open with two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth. The fourth inning was highlighted by back-to-back doubles off the center field wall from Kovac and Almond.
Almond added two more RBIs with a single in the fifth inning. Minneci came through with an RBI single in the frame.
The Bison had eight hits in the game, led by Almond with a single and double. Fazio, Minneci, Cydnee Sanders, Zahn, Kovac and Mariah Midyette chipped in with one hit apiece.
Bucknell bested a pitcher with an ERA below two for the second straight game. Alexis Bower started and took the loss, giving up six runs, three of which were earned.
