Softball Goes 1-4 at Madeira Beach Invitational, Collects Win over Western Michigan

Friday, March 11

Madeira Beach, Fla.

11 a.m.

Bucknell University

2-11

Siena

3-4

Bucknell

Siena

Softball Goes 1-4 at Madeira Beach Invitational, Collects Win over Western Michigan

3/14/2022 10:31:00 AM | Softball

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MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Bucknell softball competed against five teams over the weekend at The Spring Games invitational in Madeira Beach, Fla., concluding Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Western Michigan. The Bison came up short in the first four games, narrowly falling 3-2 to Siena on Friday, losing 5-2 to Toledo and 7-2 to LIU on Saturday, and dropping its first Sunday game 8-0 to Purdue.

Following five and a half scoreless innings in Sunday's game against the Broncos, sophomore Zoie Smith drove in the game-winning run with a two-out single to left field. The one run proved to be enough as the Bison allowed just one more baserunner in the top of the seventh and held on for the victory.

Senior Kelly Toomey received the win after going all seven innings, giving up five hits, two walks and striking out six. Senior Sarah Baluch, who got Bucknell on base before the Smith single in the sixth, was one of four Bison to record a hit in the game.

Bucknell lost in five innings against the Boilermakers earlier in the day on Sunday, giving up two runs in the first inning, four in the second and two more in the third. Junior Chase Knapp had the only two hits for Bucknell, going 2-for-3 at the plate, and four others reached on walks.

Junior Kaiya Burton received the loss to Purdue after starting the game and going 1.1 innings in the circle. Sophomore Hunter Vestal and junior Olivia Marinelli also saw time in the circle against Purdue.

Toledo opened its game against the Bison with a solo home run in the first inning of the Saturday contest and added three more runs early in the game to go up 4-0. Bucknell responded with two runs in the fourth, but the Rockets added another homer in the seventh to seal the 5-2 win.

Bucknell was on top most of the way in Friday's game against the Saints after scoring two runs on three hits in the top of the third. Siena added a run in the bottom half of the third and then won the game with a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh.

Nicole Rivait, Knapp and Ava Aguilar posted two hits each in the game, and Rivait's two-out double in top of the third got the Bison going in the inning. Knapp followed Rivait with an RBI single, and Smith singled two batters later to drive in Knapp.

Rookie Madison Roukey received the loss. Bucknell posted seven hits to Siena's three and finished with one error. Bucknell is now 3-14 on the season.

The Bison remain in Florida for two games at North Florida on Wednesday, March 16. The doubleheader begins with a 4 p.m. game at the UNF Softball Complex.