Bucknell University Athletics
Softball Heads to Pittsburgh on Wednesday for Non-Conference Doubleheader
4/5/2016 5:18:00 PM | Softball
Game 1 -- Live Video | Live Stats
Game 2 -- Live Video | Live Stats
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Thanks to five wins in its past six games, the Bucknell softball team has the exact same record (19-11) as it did through 30 games last season. That is saying something considering the 2015 team went on to set a program record with 35 wins and advanced to the championship game of the Patriot League Tournament. This year's squad looks to improve upon that impressive mark when it travels to Pittsburgh for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Bucknell is coming off a three-game sweep at Lafayette to improve to 5-1 in Patriot League play. The Bison outscored the Leopards 25-5 in the three wins.
The win total isn't the only record Bucknell is working toward equaling or breaking this season. Sophomore Meghan Kovac has already moved into the single-season top 10 in numerous categories. Her 14 doubles are tied for sixth, and she is just two shy of breaking the record held by five different players. Her 31 RBIs rank 10th and her current average of .462 would rank fifth if the season ended today.
Senior Amanda Fazio set the school's single-season record for steals with 26 last season. Her 18 stolen bases this season are already good enough for eighth. She was successful on her first 18 attempts of the season before being thrown out twice in the second game against Lafayette.
In the circle, Fazio's 1.49 ERA would be the 10th best in school history. Dana Nielsen has moved into 10th on the single-season list with three shutouts.
Anna Gimmestad earned Bucknell's first Patriot League Rookie of the Week honor this season after her performance against Lafayette. The freshman went 6-for-12 with two doubles, one triple, four runs and four RBIs.
Bucknell and Pitt have played just one time. The Bison recorded a 4-1 victory in 2008. Their last game against a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) was an 8-1 loss to Boston College last season.
Pitt enters with an overall record of 23-12 after winning the final two games of a three-game series at North Carolina State. The Panthers have a dangerous lineup that leads the ACC with 48 home runs. Giorgiana Zeremenko has 10 homers, while McKayla Taylor and Maggie Sevilla have hit seven apiece.
Following its non-conference series at Pittsburgh, Bucknell will return home for a three-game Patriot League series against Army West Point on Saturday and Sunday.
