Bucknell University
8-4, 0
Holy Cross
4-5, 0
Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader with Holy Cross
4/3/2021 6:38:00 PM | Softball
WORCESTER, Mass. – The Bucknell softball team opened the first half of a four-game Patriot League series with Holy Cross on Saturday, splitting the doubleheader in Worcester, Mass. Bucknell won game one 2-1 before falling 2-0 in game two. It was a pair of pitching duals and defense-heavy games after the Bison navigated the first leg of the season with offensive power.
Sophomore Kaiya Burton received the win in game one after going all seven innings and allowing just one run. Fellow sophomore Olivia Marinelli put up a strong showing in game two, but took the loss after the Crusaders scored in the later innings to even the series record at 1-1.
Bucknell moved to 8-5, and Holy Cross went to 5-5.
The Bison return to action tomorrow for the second half of the series, with game one beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Worcester.
Game One: Bucknell 2, Holy Cross 1
After five scoreless innings, Bucknell scored two runs in the top of the sixth in game one, and that was all that was needed as the Bison held Holy Cross in check through most of the afternoon.
The Crusaders were limited to just three hits through the first five innings as Bucknell's defense made play after play. Bucknell had its own struggles at the plate and had just one hit through the first five frames while also batting into three double plays.
The scoreless tie was finally broken in the sixth when rookie Zoie Smith knocked in two with a single through the right side. Sophomore Kailyn Lorberter led off the inning with a double to right field and was moved to third after a sacrifice bunt from senior Jess Hom. Senior Nicole Rivait then walked and stole second. With two away, Smith sent both teammates across for her 16th hit of the season and her 15th and 16th RBIs.
Holy Cross threatened the lead in the bottom of the seventh when one Crusader reached on a single and then was knocked in with a double down the left field line, but Bucknell got the last two outs it needed with the tying run on third to secure the victory.
Senior Jazmyn Stokes finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, while Smith, Hom, Rivait and Taylor Wolfgang each finished with walks.
Burton improved to 3-2 on the season with the win and ended the game with five hits allowed and a pair of strikeouts.
Game Two: Holy Cross 2, Bucknell 0
Another low scoring game and strong pitching was the story for game two as neither team found a run until the sixth inning. Marinelli allowed no hits to the Crusaders until the fifth inning, and two Holy Cross runs in the sixth handed the Bison their first loss in league play.
The Bison led off the game with a hit, but it was one of just three they'd get as Holy Cross junior Kelly Nelson threw 14 strikeouts to limit Bucknell offensively.
After being held off the board through the first five innings, Holy Cross posted three hits in the sixth that yielded two runs. The Crusaders opened the frame with a walk, then a ground out and a single to right put the go-ahead run on third. Junior Erin Bengston doubled to left field with two away in the inning to send two across and put the Bison in a hole. Bucknell was unable to get runners on in the top of the seventh as Nelson got all three Bison swinging.
Marinelli tossed six strikeouts and allowed five hits while walking two. Hom, Rivait and Wolfgang each ended up with hits, and Smith walked once.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Burton, Kaiya (3-2)
L: Megan Yurchick (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Lorberter, Kailyn 1
RBI: Smith, Zoie 2
SH: Hom, Jess 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rivait, Nicole 1 ; Lorberter, Kailyn 1
SB: Rivait, Nicole 1 ; Baglivo, Tara 1
Batting:
2B: Megan Yurchick 1
RBI: Megan Yurchick 1
SH: Olivia Eckelman 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Morgan Jensen 1
SB: Bailey Chavez 1
