Softball Drops a Pair on Opening Day at Green & Gold Classic

Friday, February 11

Charlotte, N.C.

10 a.m.

Bucknell University

0-1

Notre Dame

1-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Bucknell	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	1
Notre Dame	4	1	1	3	X	9	7	1

Photo by: Kyle Grice

Softball Drops a Pair on Opening Day at Green & Gold Classic

2/11/2022 6:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Bucknell softball opened its 2022 season at the Green & Gold Classic on Friday and suffered a pair of tough losses to Notre Dame and UNC Charlotte. Five different pitchers saw work, as the Bison fell 9-1 to the Fighting Irish and 21-0 to the 49ers.

Bucknell will see both teams again on Saturday, beginning with a 3 p.m. game against UNC Charlotte and a 5:30 contest against Notre Dame.

Game One: Notre Dame 9, Bucknell 1

Notre Dame grabbed a sizable lead early in the game with a grand slam in the first inning, and while Bucknell answered with a home run in the third, it was unable to produce consistent offense against the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame went on to add runs in the second, third and fourth innings.

Senior Sarah Baluch joined junior Chase Knapp as the only two Bison to record hits, and Kelly Toomey and Kaiya Burton saw two innings each in the circle.

Notre Dame loaded the bases with just one out in the first with a single and a pair of walks. Sophomore Karina Gaskins knocked all four runs in with a homer that put the Bison down 4-0. Bucknell was able to retire the next two batters after that.

Baluch singled during the Bison's next trip to the plate in the top of the second, but that was it for the inning. Notre Dame added to its lead with back-to-back two-out doubles in the bottom half.

With two away in the top of the third, Knapp hit the fourth home run of her career to cut into the deficit and make it a 5-1 game, however, it was the only run Bucknell managed to score all day.

Notre Dame added a run on a triple in the third and three runs on two hits and a Bison error in the bottom of the fourth.

Toomey gave up five earned runs in the loss, while Burton gave up one and had Bucknell's only strikeout. Both pitchers ended with a pair of walks as well.

Game Two: UNC Charlotte 21, Bucknell 0

Bucknell threw three pitchers in the second game of the day against hosting UNC Charlotte, but none were able to slow down the red-hot 49ers. The Niners posted 16 hits against Bucknell's one, and the Bison finished with four errors.

Nine of UNC Charlotte's hits went for extra bases, including five doubles and three home runs.

Bucknell rookie Madison Roukey started the game in the circle and received the loss, allowing five of the nine earned runs that scored during her 1.2 innings of work. She posted a pair of strikeouts in the first as well. Sophomore Hunter Vestal entered the game in the second but lasted just one inning, and junior Olivia Marinelli finished the game, earning five runs with five walks and four strikeouts.

Rookie MaKenzie Hilling had Bucknell's lone hit of the game, as she opened the top of the fifth inning with a single to right field. She then advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout by Baluch. Hilling nearly spoiled the shutout but was caught at home on a fielder's choice.