Bucknell University
2-1
Saint Francis University
1-1
Softball Routs Saint Francis 10-2, Suffers Walk-Off Defeat by USC Upstate
2/8/2020 8:15:00 PM | Softball
SPARTANSBURG, S.C. – Bucknell softball earned its second win of the season with a big 10-2 victory over three-time defending Northeast Conference champion Saint Francis on Friday. Senior pitcher Raeanne Geffert picked up her second win of the season in the victory, and Bucknell opened the season 2-1 for the first time since 2017.
The Bison would later fall 3-2 to host USC Upstate on a walk-off that brought their record to 2-2 at the conclusion of the opening-weekend invitational.
"Overall, we had a very strong opening weekend. We hit the ball really well throughout the four games and got some great innings out of our pitching staff," said assistant coach Matt Burns. "Obviously, 2-2 isn't the record you want coming back home, but we know it's early still, and we're committed to our process."
Bucknell travels to Buies Creek, N.C. next weekend to take part in the Campbell Invitational. The Bison have five games slated for that weekend, including two more against the Red Flash. The first game is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 14.
Bucknell 10, Saint Francis 2
Bucknell totaled nine runs in the fourth and fifth innings to capture a 10-2 victory over Saint Francis at the Upstate Classic Saturday afternoon. It was the second win of the weekend for the Bison and the second time they've ended a game in the fifth inning with an eight-run advantage. Allyse Volpe went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored in the win.
Tied at 1-1 in the top of the fourth, Jess Hom hit a single to left field that sent one run across and sparked a string of runs on three consecutive batters. Hom's hit was followed by a Volpe double and a Chase Knapp single that pushed the Bison lead to three heading into the fifth inning.
The fifth inning saw six Bucknell runs score, helped by four Red Flash errors. Ava Fairbanks, Taylor Wolfgang, and Volpe all singled in the inning. Nicole Rivait reached on a walk, and Kailyn Lorberter was hit by a pitch. The inning resulted in a 10-2 Bison lead.
The defense turned around and retired the Red Flash in order, sealing the victory. With the win, Geffert improved to 2-0 on the young season. Geffert posted her second eight-strikeout game and walked no batters.
Hom and Wolfgang each finished with a pair of RBIs, and as a team, Bucknell produced 10 hits and just one error.
Bucknell 2, USC Upstate 3
Bucknell led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning against the Spartans, but a two-RBI walk-off single to left center ended the night for the Bison in the final game of the Upstate Classic.
The Bison were two outs away from sealing the win, but USC Upstate put runners on second and third following a pair of singles and an error. Geffert had allowed only four hits through six innings leading into the seventh.
Bucknell had taken a 2-1 lead during the fifth thanks to a two-RBI single by Knapp, which were the sixth and seventh of the weekend for the freshman infielder.
None of the three runs the Spartans scored were earned by Geffert, who finished with seven strikeouts and no walks. Volpe went 2-for-4 with a walk and was left on base three times.
"Our team didn't use the cold, the snow, or playing late at night as an excuse, and I'm proud of them for that. I believe we'll be better going forward because of the good competition we faced," said Burns. "We're excited to get back to campus to fix some little things and work hard in practice this week."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Geffert, Raeanne (2-0)
L: Vesco (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Volpe, Allyse 1
3B: Hom, Jess 1
RBI: Volpe, Allyse 1 ; Knapp, Chase 1 ; Wolfgang, Taylor 2 ; Fairbanks, Ava 1 ; Lichtenwalner, Lauren 1 ; Mariano, Halie 1 ; Hom, Jess 2
SH: Lorberter, Kailyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Volpe, Allyse 2 ; Rivait, Nicole 1 ; Baglivo, Tara 1 ; Lichtenwalner, Lauren 1 ; DeRiso, Bella 1 ; Lorberter, Kailyn 2 ; Mariano, Halie 1 ; Hom, Jess 1
SB: Volpe, Allyse 1 ; Wolfgang, Taylor 1 ; Lichtenwalner, Lauren 1 ; Lorberter, Kailyn 1 ; Mariano, Halie 1
HBP: Wolfgang, Taylor 1 ; Lorberter, Kailyn 2
Batting:
HR: Marsden 1
RBI: Bezjak 1 ; Marsden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rousseau 1 ; Marsden 1
SB: Nagle 1
