Bucknell University
10-8, 0
Boston University
23-2, 0
Bison Softball Ends Weekend with Pair of 3-2 Losses to Boston U.
4/18/2021 6:40:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell softball team wrapped up its four-game series against Boston U. on Sunday with a pair of 3-2 losses that went down to the wire. Similar to Saturday's games, the Bison had game-tying and go-ahead runs on base in the bottom of the seventh but weren't able to drive them in. Bucknell (10-9, 7-5 PL) lost all four games to Boston (24-2, 13-1 PL) by one run.
"Hopefully this shows our pitching staff and our defense that we're as good as anybody. We had opportunities to win every single game, so I think this one hurts a little bit just knowing that we had four opportunities to win and we didn't get any of those wins," said head coach Sarah Caffrey. "At the end of the day, there was a lot of good and it's something to build on moving forward. Now it's just taking care of business the rest of the way so that we get an opportunity to play them again."
The Bison return to play next weekend with four games against Lehigh. Bucknell will travel to the Mountain Hawks for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 24, then host two games at Becker Field on Sunday, April 25.
Game One: Boston U. 3, Bucknell 2
The Terriers hung the first three runs on the board in the first game, taking their largest lead of the weekend series. Bucknell battled back and scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh and had the game-tying run on second base before the final out was made.
Unlike Saturday's games, the Bison kept the Terriers off the scoreboard through the first two frames. With two away in the top of the third, Boston sandwiched a double between two singles to drive in a pair of runs and take a 2-0 lead. A single in the top of the sixth drove in another run to put the Terriers up by three heading into the final inning.
Bucknell went to work in the bottom of the seventh, beginning with a one-out walk by Chase Knapp. A Nicole Rivait double put runners at second and third, and a Taylor Wolfgang single in the next at-bat made it a 3-1 game with two on and one out. Zoie Smith then reached on a fielder's choice a few pitches later, scoring Rivait and cutting the deficit to one. The Bison got one more baserunner on before grounding out and ending the game.
Bucknell posted a weekend-high seven hits in the game, but left 11 total Bison on base throughout the afternoon.
Sophomore Olivia Marinelli fell to 2-3 on the season after pitching the first three innings, striking out two and giving up six hits and two runs. Junior Kelly Toomey came in to relieve and allowed four hits with one run. Boston's Ali DuBois went all seven innings and improved to 17-0 with the win.
Game Two: Boston U. 3, Bucknell 2
Bucknell fell behind 3-0 once again in the second game before pulling within one during the sixth inning. The Bison put runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seven, but once again the magic ran out down the stretch.
The Terriers added the first run in the third inning with a walk and a pair of singles. After going scoreless in the fourth, they put two more up in the fifth with a two-out double that went over the center fielder's head and made it a 3-0 Boston lead.
This time, the Bison didn't wait around until the seventh inning to make their move. Knapp led off the bottom of the sixth with a single through the left side. One batter later, Rivait sent a two-run homer over the left field fence that made it a 3-2 game heading into the final inning.
Kailyn Lorberter came in to pinch hit in the bottom of the seven and reached on a single with one away. Tara Baglivo then reached on a fielding error to put the tying run on second and the winner at first, however, the Terriers made the last two outs and ended the series.
Kaiya Burton pitched all seven innings, struck out two and allowed eight hits. Boston's Emily Gant received the win with nine strikeouts and three hits given up.
Rivait finished the weekend series 4-for-9 with two walks, a double and two RBIs. She now has four homers this spring. Knapp was 4-for-12 in the series, including a 2-for-3 showing at the plate in the last game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: DuBois, Ali (17-0)
L: Marinelli, Olivia (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Coker, Caitlin 1 ; Nett, Lauren 1 ; Amodio, Nicole 1
RBI: Nett, Lauren 1 ; Gant, Emily 1 ; G-Almeida, Bella 1
SH: Amodio, Nicole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sylvestri, Marina 1 ; Nett, Lauren 1 ; Molinar, Alex-Rose 1
SB: Keleher, Lauren 1
HBP: Sylvestri, Marina 1
Batting:
2B: Rivait, Nicole 1
RBI: Wolfgang, Taylor 1 ; Smith, Zoie 1
SH: Rivait, Nicole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knapp, Chase 1 ; Rivait, Nicole 1
HBP: Rivait, Nicole 1 ; Baluch, Sarah 1
