Bucknell University
Army
Softball Bested by Army in Saturday Doubleheader
5/1/2021 4:25:00 PM | Softball
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Bucknell softball struggled offensively against the Army Black Knights on Saturday and fell in both games of an afternoon road doubleheader. Army held the Bison off the scoreboard in both games while totaling eight runs themselves over 14 innings. Bucknell (11-14, 8-10 PL) posted four hits on the day, while Army (10-13, 6-8 PL) totaled 20.
Bucknell plays two more against the Black Knights on Sunday and will look to even the series at 2-2.
Game One: Army 3, Bucknell 0
Bucknell held Army scoreless over the final four innings of the series opener, but three runs over the first two innings were enough to defeat the Bison, who failed to score a run in the contest.
Army's Jolie Duong held Bucknell without a hit until the last half inning of the game. The Bison struck out just twice, but couldn't make solid contact until Sarah Baluch's single up the middle in the top of the seventh. Army posted eight hits in the game, including a home run and a pair of doubles.
Sophomore Olivia Marinelli made the start for the Bison and gave up six hits and three runs over three innings. Junior Kelly Toomey pitched the final three, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out three.
Sophomore Chase Knapp accounted for two of Bucknell's three walks in the game.
Army made its first dent on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when rookie Kayla Edwards hit a solo home run to left field. After Bucknell went down in order in the top of the second, the Black Knights tacked on two more runs with a single and double to go up 3-0.
The Bison struggled to find baserunners throughout the much of the afternoon, but they put two on in the top of the seventh in hopes of securing the comeback. Baluch spoiled Duong's no-hitter with one away in the seventh, and Wolfgang reached with a two-out walk.
Game Two: Army 5, Bucknell 0
Bucknell wasted no time finding hits in the second game, but again the Bison failed to score a run. Army scored runs in the second, third and fourth innings to complete the day one sweep.
Sophomore Kaiya Burton went five innings in the circle and earned four of the five runs. Rookie Hunter Vestal entered in the sixth and gave up one hit while striking out one.
The Bison led off the game with back-to-back hits from Niki Mabry and Jess Hom, however, a strikeout and a double play in the next two at-bats wasted the opportunity.
After the Black Knights were held off the board in the first inning, they recorded a single and double in the second to go up 1-0. They then led off the third with four consecutive hits to take a 3-0 lead. Finally, a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth pushed the advantage to five before the Bison were able to stop the assault.
Bucknell posted one more hit in the top of the fifth, but Army held on to collect the win.
Mabry, Hom and Zoie Smith posted the three hits for Bucknell.
