Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Towson University
Softball Begins 2020 Season at Upstate Classic This Weekend
2/5/2020 12:05:00 PM | Softball
Setting the Scene
What: Upstate Classic
Where: Cyrill Softball Stadium (Spartansburg, S.C.)
When: Feb. 7-8
Bucknell Schedule (All Times EST)
Friday, Feb. 7
3 p.m. | vs. Towson | Live Stats
7 p.m. | vs. Marshall | Live Stats | Listen Live
Saturday, Feb. 8
11 a.m. | vs. Saint Francis | Live Stats
1 p.m. | at USC Upstate | Live Stats
About the Bison
• Bucknell begins its 2020 season this weekend at the Upstate Classic in Spartansburg, S.C. The Bison will play four games between Friday and Saturday, including matchups with Towson, Marshall, Saint Francis, and USC Upstate.
• The Bison placed senior pitcher Raeanne Geffert and sophomore Allyse Volpe on the Preseason All-Patriot League list, and the team was picked to finish third in the Patriot League Preseason Poll.
• Including Geffert and Volpe, the Bison return four of their six All-Conference players from 2019. Volpe was also named Rookie of the Year last season.
• Bucknell added four newcomers - Chase Knapp, Kailyn Lorberter, Kaiya Burton, and Olivia Marinelli - to the roster this year.
• Last year's squad finished second in Patriot League standings for a second consecutive season, and the Bison have compiled a 27-8 Patriot League record under 2019 Coach of the Year Joey Lye.
• Bucknell will be without Lye this season as she competes with Team Canada in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Assistant coaches Matt Burns and Jordan Richwood will be leading the Bison thorughout the season.
• Further information on the 2020 Bison can be found below in the season preview.
Scouting the Opponents
• Towson finished 27-27 overall and 10-11 in the CAA last season. The Tigers return Second Team All-CAA senior Julia Smith-Harrington, who led the conference in doubles last season. Smith-Harrington also finished with a 6-3 record in the circle in 2019.
• Marshall went 42-22 overall and posted a 17-7 conference record in 2019. The Herd reached the Conference USA Championship game last season and competed in the National Invitational Softball Championship postseason tournament. The Herd return three All-Conference players from last season.
• Saint Francis went 29-31 overall and 10-6 in the Northeast Conference last season. The Red Flash have reached the NCAA tournament in each of the last three seasons and return 2019 All-NEC selections MeKenzie Saban and Christina Clark.
• USC Upstate is another team that finished with over 40 wins a season ago. The Spartans graduated two of their three NFCA All-Region players from last season and welcomed 14 newcomers to the roster. Senior catcher Alyssa Oakes was named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List in January.
Series History with the Opponents
• Towson – Bucknell is 18-38 in the all-time series with the Tigers. Bucknell last faced the Tigers in 2018, falling 3-0 on the road.
• Marshall – The Herd lead the all-time series 6-1 over the Bison. Bucknell last played Marshall in 2015.
• Saint Francis – Bucknell leads 29-23 in the all-time series against Saint Francis. Bucknell dropped two games against the Red Flash last season.
• USC Upstate – Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between Bucknell and USC Upstate.
Up Next
• The Bison head to Buies Creek, N.C. to take part in the Campbell Invitational. Bucknell will play five games that weekend, with matchups against Saint Francis, Campbell, Mount St. Mary's, and Howard. The weekend begins with a 10 a.m. game vs. the Red Flash on Friday, Feb. 14.
2020 Softball Season Preview
Bucknell softball begins its 2020 season two short days from now, and with 75 percent of the last season's roster remaining intact, the Bison are set up well to once again be a contender for a Patriot League title.
Bucknell has finished in second place in each of the first two seasons under head coach Joey Lye and has compiled a 27-8 record in Patriot League play. The Bison have also placed 10 players on All-Patriot League lists, and Lye was named the 2019 Coach of the Year.
The dugout will look different this season, however, as Lye will be absent while she competes with Team Canada in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It will be up to third-year assistant Matt Burns and first-year assistant Jordan Richwood to continue working the process that has contributed to the team's recent success.
"Having been here the last two years, I think the women are comfortable with me and understand how I operate," said Burns. "Obviously, Jordan is new, but she's fit in so well and has been great for not only the women, but also for me to rely on."
Richwood, who put together a successful playing career at Memphis, spent time coaching at Christian Brothers prior to her arrival in Lewisburg. She'll work primarily with Bucknell's pitchers, but will also work with the outfielders and coach first base.
"Jumping from a volunteer to a first assistant this year is a big jump, and I think she's handled it really well," said Burns. "She's been really big and she'll be a great addition for us."
Lye plans on remaining involved through weekly conversations with the coaching staff, but will mostly serve as a spectator throughout the season.
Another new look will be the middle of Bucknell's defense with the graduation of All-Patriot League players Anna Gimmestad and Lauren Hadley.
"There are some uncertainties in the lineup going into the first game," said Burns. "Right now, we're looking at two of our incoming freshmen to be able to take over those roles defensively, and as far as the offensive production, you're hoping that everybody grows a little bit and produces a little bit more than the year before."
Bucknell added four freshmen to the roster this year, and the group is expected to step in and have an immediate impact. First among them is Chase Knapp, who expects to take over the starting role at shortstop. Kaiya Burton adds depth at pitcher for the Bison, and Kailyn Lorberter provides versatility with the ability to play in both the infield and outfield. Lorberter could be penciled in at second base to begin the season. Bucknell also added freshman Olivia Marinelli to the pitching staff.
Pitching has been a strength of the team in recent years, and that should continue as the team returns three-time All-Patriot League senior Raeanne Geffert. Geffert won 16 games for the Bison last season with a 2.20 ERA and tallied a program-record 169 strikeouts. Also returning is senior Lauren Lichtenwalner, who grabbed 11 wins for the Bison last season. Lichtenwalner will also see some time at first base.
Behind the plate, junior Taylor Wolfgang enters her third season as a starter and will serve a major leadership role for the team. She led the league in RBIs last year and will be a middle-of-the-order batter.
"She's going to be a huge run producer for us. She'll be able to take that void on her shoulders a little bit from Hadley and Gimmestad leaving," said Burns.
Leading the outfielders will be 2019 Rookie of the Year Allyse Volpe. A Third Team All-Region centerfielder, Volpe led the Patriot League in batting average (.399) and on-base percentage (.442) last season. She was also second in stolen bases (17), third in hits (57), and third in triples (4).
"She's just a complete table setter for us, being able to get on base, steal bases, and hands down the best defensive outfielder in the league," said Burns. "She tracks balls that a lot of other outfielders don't get to, so she's great for us on both sides of the ball. Being able to be strong up the middle at catcher, pitcher, and centerfielder is huge."
Another strong returner in the outfield is Jess Hom, who was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection in 2019. Hom started 39 games last season and batted .314 with 12 RBIs. She's joined by Tara Baglivo, who's made 40 career starts in her first two seasons, and Hailie Mariano, who Burns says has improved greatly during her time with the Bison.
"Each year she's seen batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage jump. She worked as hard as any player I've seen in the offseason and even throughout the season to get a full-time role," said Burns.
Sophomore Bella DeRiso and junior Jordan Trimiew will also provide depth in the outfield.
Along with the two freshmen, Bucknell's infield sees the return of Nicole Rivait, Marisa Alemany, Sarah Baluch, Julienne Egofske, and Jazmyn Stokes.
Egofske and Baluch have each been named All-Patriot League designated players during their time with the Bison. Egofske also saw time at first base in 2019. Alemany started 38 games in last season, playing mostly at first and third. The senior finished last season with 11 RBIs and walked 21 times. Lastly, Bucknell brings back Rivait, who started 48 of 52 games and hit .277.
Bucknell begins its 2020 season at the Upstate Classic this weekend, where the challenges come early and often. The Bison have a host of tough teams and Power Five competition on the schedule, as well as the strong Patriot League competition that awaits later in the season.
"Our schedule doesn't really have a lot of points where you can let off the gas and coast at all," said Burns. "We have to be at our best and play to our standard every single day. It will be a nice, consistent test for our team, and every win that we get will be well earned."
