Bucknell University
Lehigh
Softball Faces Mountain Hawks in Four-Game Weekend Series
4/22/2021 12:50:00 PM | Softball
Setting the Scene, Part I
What: Bucknell (10-9, 7-5 PL) at Lehigh (7-13, 5-7 PL) (DH)
Where: Bethlehem, Pa.
When: Saturday, April 24 – Noon / 2 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+ (Game 1)
Watch: ESPN+ (Game 2)
Live Stats: LehighSports.com
Spectator Policy: LehighSports.com
Setting the Scene, Part II
What: Lehigh at Bucknell (DH)
Where: Lewisburg, Pa. – Becker Field
When: Sunday, April 25 – 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Spectator Policy: BucknellBison.com
About the Bison
• Bucknell returns to action this weekend with four games against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. The Bison will travel to Bethlehem, Pa. on Saturday for the first doubleheader before the fourth-place Mountain Hawks make the trip to Lewisburg for Sunday's doubleheader.
• Bucknell suffered a four-game setback against Boston U. last weekend. The Bison were in all four games but lost each by a one-run margin. The Bison limited the Terriers to 10 total runs over the weekend while scoring six themselves.
• Senior Nicole Rivait had one of the better weekends at the plate for the Bison. Rivait went 4-for-9 in the series with two RBIs, a double and a home run. She currently leads the team in batting average (.397), hits (23), and runs scored (20).
• Also putting together a solid weekend in her return to the lineup was sophomore Chase Knapp. Knapp went 4-for-12 with an RBI and three runs scored. Knapp is one of four Bison with double-digit RBIs this spring.
• Senior Taylor Wolfgang is second in the Patriot Leagues in walks this season after earning three more last weekend. She's now just six shy of tying Bucknell's all-time career record in the category. Wolfgang is also tied for seventh in the record books in career doubles (37), tied for fourth in homers (17), and ranks eighth in RBIs (94).
• The fourth Bison batting over .300 is rookie Zoie Smith. Smith had a quiet weekend against the Terriers, but she remains second on the roster in hits (19), tied for first in doubles (5), and leads the squad in homers (5).
• Rookie Niki Mabry and sophomore Kailyn Lorberter also posted hits against the Terriers. Mabry added two hits to her season total and came up with a pair of walks in big spots. In total, nine Bison accounted for 13 walks over the weekend.
• From the pitching staff, Kelly Toomey, Kaiya Burton and Olivia Marinelli each made starts last weekend. Toomey earned three runs and walked two in 11 innings of work, and Burton gave up five runs over two complete games. Marinelli owns a 2.97 ERA this season in 30.2 innings pitched. Kaiya Burton leads the team with eight starts, and Toomey has a team-high 40 strikeouts. Toomey suffered her first loss of the season to the Terriers and is 4-1.
Scouting the Mountain Hawks
• Lehigh sits fourth in the Patriot League standings with a 7-13 overall record and a 5-7 mark in league play. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a 1-3 weekend at Colgate. They were picked third in the Patriot League Preseason Poll.
• Common opponents between Bucknell and Lehigh to this point are Boston U., Holy Cross and Delaware. Lehigh suffered two losses to both Delaware and the Terriers before winning two against the Crusaders.
• As a team, the Mountain Hawks are batting .296 and have hit 30 doubles. Junior Chesson Jaelynn leads the Patriot League with eight doubles, including three over her last two games. Junior Carley Barjaktarovich is second in the league with a .515 (35-for-68) average at the dish.
• Junior Gabriella Nori and first-year Katelyn Young have combined for 18 starts in the circle this season. Nori is giving up 5.1 hits per game with a team-best 3.22 ERA. She was a Preseason All-Patriot League selection.
Series History with the Mountain Hawks
• Bucknell 46-94 in the all-time series with Lehigh, which dates back to 1979.
• The Bison are 6-4 over the Mountain Hawks over the last 10 meetings, including a 3-2 record in 2019.
• The two teams last met during the 2019 Patriot League Tournament, where the Mountain Hawks won both games to eliminate the Bison. Jess Hom went 2-for-5 over the two games, and Taylor Wolfgang finished with a hit and an RBI.
• Bucknell won the three meetings during the 2019 regular season, including a 14-3 five-inning game in Bethlehem.
Up Next
• Bucknell will play its final road series of the regular season at Army. The Bison will play doubleheaders on both Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2. The Black Knights are currently fifth in league standings at 6-9 overall and 3-5 against conference opponents.
