Bucknell University Athletics
Softball Continues League Play with Three-Game Series at Lafayette
4/1/2016 11:57:00 AM | Softball
Game 1 -- Live Video | Live Stats
Game 2 -- Live Video | Live Stats
Game 3 -- Live Video | Live Stats
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell softball team continues league play with a three-game series at Lafayette this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday and one game at noon on Sunday. All three games will be played at the Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex and can be watched live free of charge on the Patriot League Network.
Bucknell improved to 16-11 overall and 2-1 in the Patriot League after winning the first two games of a three-game series against Holy Cross last weekend. The Bison erased early deficits to post 5-3 and 5-1 victories, before coming up just short of another comeback in a 5-4 loss.
The series with Lafayette has been dominated by Bucknell over the past few years. The Bison lead the series 71-40-1 after posting wins in 10 of the past 11 games. During that stretch, they have outscored the Leopards 56-9, have recorded seven shutouts, and haven't allowed more than three runs.
Bucknell continues to post numbers that rank well nationally. The Bison are 18th in the nation in doubles per game, paced by sophomore Meghan Kovac with 13 and Anna Gimmestad with nine. Kovac is second in the country in doubles per game, while Gimmestad is 43rd. Kovac is batting .479, which ranks 15th in the nation.
Senior Amanda Fazio started two games against Holy Cross, including a complete-game performance in the 5-1 victory. Her 1.28 ERA is the 16th lowest in the country. She is also a perfect 17-for-17 on stolen base attempts and is 31st in steals per game.
Lafayette enters the weekend at 7-17 overall and 0-3 in the conference after dropping a three-game set to Lehigh, the preseason favorite in the Patriot League, and splitting a non-conference midweek doubleheader with Drexel. The Leopards, who have already won three more times than they did all of last season, were able to push the Mountain Hawks to nine innings in the second game.
Lafayette won 3-1 the opening game of the doubleheader against Drexel thanks to a three RBIs from Allison Brown. Her day was highlighted by a two-run home run.
Senior Dana Nielsen started two games against Lafayette last season and was untouchable in a pair of shutout wins. She struck out six batters while pitching all 12 innings over two outings.
Bucknell will follow its three-game series at Lafayette with a doubleheader at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The first game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Vartabedian Field.
