Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Softball Hits the Road for Four Games at Holy Cross
4/1/2021 10:10:00 AM | Softball
Setting the Scene, Part I
What: Bucknell (7-4) at Holy Cross (4-4) (DH)
Where: Worcester, Mass.
When: Saturday, April 3 – 12:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoHolyCross.com
Setting the Scene, Part II
What: Bucknell at Holy Cross (DH)
Where: Worcester, Mass.
When: Sunday, April 4 – 12:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m.
Live Stats: GoHolyCross.com
Holy Cross Spectator Policy: GoHolyCross.com
About the Bison
• Bucknell opened Patriot League play with a four-game sweep over Lafayette. The Bison outscored the Leopards 17-10 in two home games on Saturday, then won by a combined score of 21-9 in Monday's road doubleheader. Bucknell is the only Patriot League team with four games played in conference, with Boston U. also undefeated at 2-0.
• Bucknell now travels to Holy Cross for a four-game series that makes up the middle portion of an eight-game road stand.
• As a team, the Bison batted .379 in the Lafayette series and totaled nine home runs, seven doubles and one triple. Bucknell also posted a season-high 17 in its most recent win.
• The Bison brought home two Patriot League weekly awards following the Lafayette series. Senior Taylor Wolfgang was named the Patriot League Player of the Week after batting 8-for-10 with nine RBIs, three home runs, two doubles and five walks. First-year catcher Zoie Smith earned Rookie of the Week honors after going 6-for-15 at the plate with seven RBIs, a double and three homers. Smith has now been named Rookie of the Week twice and Player of the Week once.
• Bucknell is batting .325 as a team and boasts 28 extra-base hits this season, including 13 home runs for a .502 slugging percentage. The Bison also have a league-best .404 on-base percentage.
• Wolfgang leads the Bison in batting average (.414) through 11 games after batting .800 in the Lafayette series. Wolfgang currently ranks fourth in program history with 17 career home runs.
• Smith leads the team in hits (15), doubles (4), home runs (5), and is tied for the team-lead with 14 RBIs. Joining her with 14 is junior Nicole Rivait, who's third on the team batting .389. Rivait led Bucknell with 10 RBIs in the Lafayette series while hitting two home runs and a double.
• All four members of Bucknell's pitching staff saw action against Lafayette, with sophomore Olivia Marinelli making two of the four starts. Marinelli pitched a complete game on Saturday and struck out eight while allowing no runs. Kaiya Burton and Kelly Toomey also earned wins over the weekend.
• Toomey leads the team with a 3-0 record and 26 strikeouts this spring. Meanwhile, Burton has pitched a team-high 27 innings, and Marinelli sports a team-best 2.91 ERA.
Scouting the Crusaders
• Holy Cross improved to 4-4 on Wednesday with a pair of wins over the Maine Black Bears. The Crusaders had previously split a doubleheader with Colgate.
• Holy Cross senior Bella Kankowski is batting a team-best .526 (10-for-19) with a double. Behind her is junior Jessie Nagel, who's batting .467 (7-for-15) with three doubles, two home runs and 16 RBIs.
• Junior Kelly Nelson is 3-1 in the circle after being named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team in February. Nelson has pitched two complete games and threw shutouts in both. She has a 0.92 ERA.
Series History with the Crusaders
• Bucknell is 65-36 in the all-time series with Holy Cross, dating back to 1991. The Bison have won six in a row, sweeping the Crusaders twice in 2018 and 2019. The last Holy Cross victory was on April 30, 2017.
• Bucknell posted two shutouts against Holy Cross in 2019 before going nine innings in the third game and winning 5-3. Taylor Wolfgang hit two home runs in the last series with the Crusaders.
Up Next
• Bucknell takes a small break from Patriot League play to compete against Coppin State in its final two non-league games on the schedule. The Bison will visit the Eagles for a doubleheader on Sunday, April 11.
