Softball Edged by UNCW in Nine Innings

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Amanda Fazio pitched another gem but took a no-decision as Bucknell fell 3-1 in extra innings to UNCW in the first game of the Seahawk Softball Classic on Friday. The host Seahawks won on a walk-off home run by Sarah Davis in the bottom of the ninth inning, improving to 8-2 with their sixth straight victory.

Bucknell dropped to 2-4 overall, but its last three losses have come by a combined four runs. Fazio has pitched great in those games, including Friday's contest. She started and gave up just one run in seven innings of work, walking one and striking out three.

The Bison took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Fazio singled up the middle with one out and later scored on a two-out single up the middle by Meghan Kovac.

Fazio held UNCW scoreless until it tied the game with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Claudia Spinelli delivered the big hit, a one-out RBI single that also put runners on the corners. Fazio worked out of the inning with the help of her battery mate. Christina Martinez threw out Spinelli attempting to steal, and Fazio got the batter to fly out to right field.

Bucknell had a runner reach base in both the seventh and eighth innings. For the game, the Bison were 1-for-13 with runners on base.

Kovac upped her season-opening hitting streak to six games with a pair of singles. She is batting .650 on the season. Fazio also had two singles, while Jacee Almond and Carolyn Wan contributed one hit apiece.

In five appearances, including four starts this season, Fazio has a 1.62 ERA. She has given up six earned runs in 26 innings while walking five batters and striking out 18.

Kovac and Fazio are coming off a week in which they won Patriot League Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week awards, respectively.

The Bison will play two games on Saturday, including a rematch with UNCW at 12:30 p.m. They will take on North Carolina Central at 3 p.m.