Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Nielsen Shuts Out Lafayette Again as Bison Sweep the Series
4/15/2015 9:06:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Dana Nielsen pitched her second shutout in as many days, and Chaylen Andolino continued to swing a hot bat as the Bucknell softball team shutout visiting Lafayette 3-0 on Wednesday at Becker Field.
The win completed the series sweep for the Bison, helping them improve to 25-17 overall and 4-5 in the Patriot League. The Leopards left Lewisburg at 3-28 overall and 1-11 in the conference.
Nielsen went the distance in the circle, scattering seven hits and one walk to improve to 9-4. She struck out five batters and extended her scoreless streak to 12 innings. She has given up just one run in her past 19 innings of work, lowering her ERA to 3.20.
Lafayette had four hits in the first three innings, but Nielsen escaped all three unscathed. The Leopards' Samantha Sweigart led off the top of the third with a double and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt. Nielsen got the next batter to groundout back to the circle, and ended the threat with a strikeout. She gave up just three hits in the final four innings.
Starting for the third straight game, Andolino came through with another big hit. Meghan Kovac gave Bucknell a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the fourth inning. With two outs in the same inning, Andolino delivered with a two-run single to pad the Bison lead.
Andolino finished 6-for-8 at the plate in the series against Lafayette. She had one double, drove in three runs and scored twice. She added a walk to give her an on-base percentage of .778 in the three games.
Jacee Almond, Cydnee Sanders and Maddie Minneci added singles for Bucknell. Almond has an eight-game hitting streak that has helped raise her season average to .287.
Coach Bonnie Skrenta's Bison have won six straight games, all on their home field. They will be on the road for the next two series against Patriot League teams. Up next is a trip to Army West Point for a three-game series. The teams are scheduled for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday and one game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
