Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Presbyterian
Softball Tops Presbyterian, Falls to Florida A&M at Rebel Spring Games
3/8/2015 11:17:00 PM | Softball
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Bucknell softball team opened play at the Rebel Spring Games on Sunday, winning its opener 8-0 over Presbyterian before falling to Florida A&M by a 4-3 score in the second game of the day.
The Bison are 11-7 on the season, with wins in six of their past eight games. They continue play in Winter Haven, Florida with a pair of contests on Monday. They will play Southern Illinois at 12:15 p.m., and will take on Niagara at 2:30 p.m.
Bucknell 8, Presbyterian 0 (5 innings)
Amanda Fazio improved to 7-2 on the season, pitching four scoreless innings. The junior gave up just one hit, walked none and struck out eight batters. Freshman Taylor Langtry pitched a scoreless fifth inning.
Five Bison players combined for seven hits, led by Jacee Almond and Erin Cox with a single and double apiece. Almond drove in three runs, while Cox plated two. Madeline Minneci, Fazio and Cydnee Sanders all singled. Minneci drove in one run, as did Chaylen Andolino.
Despite the final score and the early end to the game due to the eight-run rule, Fazio's superb pitching was necessary. The Bison were up 3-0 after four innings before pulling away with five runs in the top of the fifth.
Florida A&M 4, Bucknell 3
Bucknell lost for the first time all season when it led after any inning. The Bison scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, but were doomed by a four-run sixth inning by Florida A&M.
Senior Kristen Zahn, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Week, sparked Bucknell's big inning with a solo home run. It was her fourth of the season, trying her with Cox for the team lead. Fazio tallied a pair of singles, Carolyn Wan singled twice and drove in two runs, and freshman Meghan Kovac singled once.
Denise Anderson delivered the big hit for the Rattlers, a bases-clearing double with the bases full in the sixth inning.
Fazio has reached base in 10 straight games and has a four-game hitting streak. Zahn has reached base in seven consecutive games.
