Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Boston University
Softball Clinches Second Seed in PL Tournament with Doubleheader Sweep of Boston
5/2/2015 9:48:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell softball clinched the second seed in the Patriot League Tournament with a doubleheader sweep of Boston University on Saturday at Becker Field. The Bison improved to 32-18 overall and 11-6 in the conference with 13 wins in their past 14 games.
Erin Cox delivered a walk-off home run to give Bucknell a 2-1 victory in game one, while Amanda Fazio recorded her second win of the day and 17th of the season in the Bison's 6-1 win in game two. The two wins combined with Colgate's two losses clinched the second seed for the Bison at the conference tournament, which will be held at top-seeded Lehigh on May 7-9.
Bucknell, which will wrap up the regular season against Boston University on Sunday at noon, will play third-seeded Colgate in the opening round of the Patriot League Tournament. Lehigh will take on fourth-seeded Army West Point in the other game of the four-team, double-elimination bracket.
Cox was one of five players honored for Senior Day prior to the first game. She was joined by Colie Escobar, Tori Robinson, Cydnee Sanders and Kristen Zahn.
Game 1 – Bucknell 2, Boston University 1
Cox led off the bottom of the seventh inning and ended the game with a solo shot to left field. It was her second walk-off home run of the year, both coming at home and both as the leadoff hitter in the inning. She is tied for the program's single-season record with eight home runs.
Fazio came on in relief to notch the win. She pitched three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and one walk while striking out four. Dana Nielsen started the game and was solid in four innings of work. She gave up one run on five hits and two walks while matching a season-high with seven strikeouts.
Bucknell broke a scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Carolyn Wan got on base with a walk following a nine-pitch at-bat. Sanders followed with a double, scoring Wan all the way from first.
Boston tied the game with a run in the fifth inning, but the damage could have been worse. With the bases loaded and one out, Cox snared a line drive at first base and turned around to double-up the runner behind her that had strayed too far from the bag. The Terriers finished with seven hits and three walks, but stranded nine runners on base.
Cox also had a single in the game, giving her two of the team's four hits. Wan added a single.
Game 2 – Bucknell 6, Boston University 1
Fazio set Bucknell's single-season record with her 17th win of the season, giving up just one run in five innings. Lara Bean and Cindy Cherness combined for two innings of scoreless relief to close out the contest.
Zahn, Meghan Kovac and Maddie Minneci had two singles apiece to lead the Bison's 10-hit attack. Sanders and Christina Martinez each doubled, while Fazio, Cox and Wan chipped in with singles.
Boston struck first with one run in the top of the first inning, but Bucknell responded immediately with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. The Bison put the game out of reach with a four-run fifth inning.
With two hits on the day, Sanders tied the program's career record of 207. She needs one more to pass the mark set by Lisa Fink (1990-93).
