Bucknell University
3-3
Delaware
7-1
Softball Goes 1-1 in Sunday Doubleheader at Delaware
3/21/2021 6:12:00 PM | Softball
NEWARK, Del. – Bucknell softball went 1-1 in a doubleheader against the Delaware Blue Hens in Newark, Del., on Sunday, winning 10-6 in the first game before falling 3-2 in game two. It was a tale of two games as the Bison went all offense in the first game and played stout defense in the second. Bucknell posted 11 hits and scored double-digit runs for a second time this season in the game one victory, then registered just a pair of hits and surrendered only one run during the first five innings of game two.
With the series split, Bucknell moved to 3-4 on the season and handed the Blue Hens their first loss as they moved to 8-1.
"I'm really happy with how they showed up," said head coach Sarah Caffrey. "I think going into conference we know a little bit more about our team. I think we're in a good spot overall."
Bucknell returns to Lewisburg on Saturday, March 27 for its Patriot League and home opener against Lafayette. It will be the Bison's first home game since May of 2019. After Saturday's doubleheader, the Bison travel to Easton, Pa. on Sunday to play the Leopards at their place.
Game One: Bucknell 10, Delaware 6
Eight different Bison posted hits in the first game, including a 3-for-3 showing from sophomore Chase Knapp. Knapp totaled four RBIs to help Bucknell overcome a 4-2 deficit and hand the Blue Hens their first loss of the season.
Bucknell got its first two batters of the game on base when Jess Hom walked to lead off the first and Nicole Rivait doubled to put her in scoring position. Rookie Zoie Smith followed that up with a sacrifice fly to score Hom, and Rivait scored a batter later to give Bucknell the early 2-0 lead.
Delaware tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, and after a scoreless second it took the lead with three hits and two runs in the third to go up 4-2.
Knapp's first RBI of the game came in the fourth when she homered to cut the deficit to 4-3. It was Knapp's second home run in three games and the third of her career.
A five-hit, five-run fifth inning proved to be the answer as the Bison jumped out to commanding 8-4 lead during the frame. Bucknell tied the game at 4-all after scoring on a fielding error, then Knapp grabbed two more RBIs with a single that sent both Bella DeRiso and Rivait across. Unsatisfied with the 6-4 advantage, Jazmyn Stokes hit a one-out single up the middle that scored another. Bucknell ended the inning with rookie Hunter Vestal pinch hitting and tallying her first career hit, an RBI single to center field that put the Bison up by four.
Bucknell benefited from another error in the top of the sixth that allowed Smith to reach, and two hits later Smith made it home to increase the lead to 9-4.
Delaware scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but didn't have enough to catch the Bison as they scored once more in the seventh to arrive at the 10-6 final.
Sophomore pitcher Olivia Marinelli came in during the fourth inning and received the win after allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out five.
Other notable numbers include a 2-for-4 game with two runs scored and an RBI for Rivait, and a 1-for-4, two-RBI showing for Taylor Wolfgang.
"One of our core values is grit, and I think that was the first time we proved that we are gritty and that we can be really tough outs and tough pitchers and tough defenders," said Caffrey. "It was a really fun game. I think everyone played in some capacity. It was just fun to see them go toe-to-toe with a good team and show that we can battle and go punch-for-punch."
Game Two: Bucknell 2, Delaware 3
Sophomore Kaiya Burton made the start in the circle in game two and limited the Blue Hens to just one run through the first five innings. Meanwhile, Bucknell's offense posted two runs in the first inning once again and would maintain the lead until the bottom of the sixth.
Hom and Rivait both walked to open the contest, and an RBI single by Smith put Bucknell on the board in the first inning. Rivait scored two batters later on a wild pitch that gave the junior her third run of the day and the second of the game for the Bison.
The 2-0 lead stood until the third inning when Delaware scored on a single down the right field line to cut it in half.
The defense went to work as Delaware mustered just one hit over the next two innings. Bucknell's offense also went quiet, however, and after being retired in order in both the fifth and the sixth, the Bison gave up a game-tying run with under two innings to play. Delaware's Karolina Flores hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth that knotted up the score at 2-apiece.
A leadoff triple in the bottom of the seventh brought Marinelli in to relieve, but a walk-off single in the next at-bat put an end to the game.
Burton moved to 1-2 with the loss, giving up seven hits while striking out four.
"I'm just really looking forward to Patriot League play. I think we're in a really good spot to do some really big things," said Caffrey.
Buckell went 14-3 in Patriot League play in 2019, winning all three matchups with Lafayette.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Marinelli, Olivia (1-1)
L: Sheehan, Delani (1-1)
S: Burton, Kaiya (1)
Batting:
2B: Rivait, Nicole 1
HR: Knapp, Chase 1
RBI: Rivait, Nicole 1 ; Smith, Zoie 1 ; Wolfgang, Taylor 2 ; Knapp, Chase 4 ; Stokes, Jazmyn 1 ; Vestal, Hunter 1
SF: Rivait, Nicole 1 ; Smith, Zoie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hom, Jess 2 ; Rivait, Nicole 2 ; Smith, Zoie 1 ; DeRiso, Bella 1 ; Wolfgang, Taylor 1 ; Knapp, Chase 2 ; Gardon, Noelle 1
HBP: Smith, Zoie 1 ; Stokes, Jazmyn 1
Batting:
2B: Garber, Hanna 1 ; Glanden, Brooke 1 ; Flores, Karolina 1
RBI: Glanden, Brooke 3 ; Kisamore, Halle 1 ; Gallardo, Chayanna 2
SH: Garber, Hanna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Moore, Lexi 1 ; Mendoza, Brittney 2 ; Kisamore, Halle 1 ; Flores, Karolina 1 ; Bessel, Sarah 1
SB: Moore, Lexi 1
HBP: Mendoza, Brittney 1
