Bucknell University
Boston University
Softball Readies for Four-Game Home Series with Boston U.
4/12/2021 12:19:00 PM | Softball
Setting the Scene, Part I
What: Boston U. (20-2, 9-1 PL) at Bucknell (10-5, 7-1 PL) (DH)
Where: Lewisburg, Pa. – Becker Field
When: Saturday, April 17 – Noon / 2 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+ (Game 1)
Watch: ESPN+ (Game 2)
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Setting the Scene, Part II
What: Boston U. at Bucknell (DH)
Where: Lewisburg, Pa. – Becker Field
When: Sunday, April 18 – Noon / 2 p.m.
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Spectator Policy: BucknellBison.com
About the Bison
• Bucknell prepares for its third Patriot League series of the season this weekend when first-place Boston U. pays a visit to Lewisburg. The Bison are at the halfway point of the regular season with 15 games down and 16 to go.
• Bucknell had last weekend off after its Sunday doubleheader at Coppin State was canceled due to weather. Most recently, Bucknell went 3-1 against Holy Cross two weeks ago to improve to 7-1 in Patriot League play. It was a low-scoring weekend in which Bucknell's pitching staff and defense held the Crusaders in check. Bucknell allowed just five runs throughout the weekend.
• Taylor Wolfgang, Zoie Smith and Nicole Rivait are each batting .366 or better this season, helping the Bison rank second in the league with a team batting average of .294. Smith and Rivait lead the team with 19 hits in 49 at-bats apiece. Rivait also leads the team with 18 runs scored.
• Smith has earned Patriot League Player of the Week once and Rookie of the Week twice. The first-year catcher boasts team highs in doubles (5), home runs (5), and RBIs (18). She's also second in the Patriot League with a .796 slugging percentage. Smith has recorded a hit in all but two games.
• Jazmyn Stokes is also coming off a strong weekend at Holy Cross. The senior posted three hits and is now fourth on the team with a .286 batting average.
• Jess Hom and Wolfgang lead the Patriot League in walks per game (0.73).
• The Bison have limited their opponents to five or fewer hits in six consecutive games. Bucknell allowed just one hit in its most recent game against Holy Cross. The Bison also posted their first shutout of the season last time out and have held opponents to three or fewer runs in five straight contests.
• Leading the Bison pitching staff in wins are Kaiya Burton and Kelly Toomey. Burton is 4-2 in the circle with three complete games pitched and a 3.41 ERA. Toomey threw her first complete game last time out and allowed just one hit. She leads the Bison with 34 strikeouts.
• Olivia Marinelli sports a team-best 2.78 ERA in 27.2 innings pitched this season. She's 2-2 with eight total appearances and three starts. Lastly, rookie Hunter Vestal has made three appearances and has five strikeouts in six innings pitched.
• The Bison are currently second in Patriot League standings with a 7-1 league record, trailing only Boston. Lehigh sits at third at 4-4 in league play.
Scouting the Terriers
• Boston U. sits atop the Patriot League standings with a 20-2 overall record and a 9-1 league record. The Terriers won two games over Lehigh, swept a four-game series against Colgate, and went 3-1 this past weekend vs. Army. Boston had won 17 consecutive games before falling to the Black Knights.
• The Terriers currently lead the league with a .296 batting average. Senior Jen Horita is hitting .500 (22-for-44) with three doubles and nine RBIs and was named the Patriot League Player of the Week this week. Sophomore Caitlyn Cooker has a team-high 13 RBIs and is hitting .369.
• Boston has claimed five of the last six Pitcher of the Week awards. Two-time Pitcher of the Year Ali DuBois is 14-0 this season with a 0.66 ERA, while sophomore Allison Boaz is 4-0 with a 2.16 ERA.
• The Terriers have won four of the last six Patriot League Championships.
Series History with the Terriers
• Bucknell is 7-12 (.368) in all-time meetings with Boston dating back to 2014 and is 4-5 when playing the Terriers at home.
• Bucknell won the last meeting with Boston 4-1 back on May 4, 2019. Rivait went 2-for-2 with two RBIs in the victory, and Hom was 2-for-3 at the plate.
Up Next
• Bucknell plays four games against Lehigh next weekend. The Bison will travel to Bethlehem, Pa. for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 24 before returning to host a pair of games on Sunday, April 25.
