Softball Drops Two to Holy Cross in Saturday Doubleheader

Saturday, March 26

Lewisburg, Pa.

Noon

Bucknell University

3-21, 0-1

Holy Cross

6-16, 1-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Holy Cross	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	6	3
Bucknell	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	4	0

Softball Drops Two to Holy Cross in Saturday Doubleheader

3/26/2022 6:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell softball team opened Patriot League play at Becker Field on Saturday and fell twice to Holy Cross in a pair of low-scoring affairs. The Bison defense limited the Crusaders to just three runs over the two games, but the offense was only able to score once on the day. Bucknell fell 2-1 in game one and lost 1-0 in game two.

Rookie Elena Horn and sophomore Zoie Smith had two of the better days at the plate for the Bison. Horn went 2-for-6 with a walk and a run scored, and Smith finished 2-for-5 with a walk and Bucknell's only RBI. Senior Kelly Toomey and junior Olivia Marinelli each threw complete games for the Bison.

Bucknell returns to Becker Field on Sunday for a 1 p.m. game against Holy Cross to wrap up the series. The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Game One: Holy Cross 2, Bucknell 1

One of Smith's two hits on the day came during the third inning of game one and sent Horn across to tie things up at 1-1 with the Crusaders. Senior Nicole Rivait attempted to score on the play as well, but she was thrown out at home. Missing out on the second run proved pivotal as Holy Cross went on to score the game-winning run an inning later and pick up a 2-1 victory.

Bucknell left eight runners on base in the game, including three in the first inning and one in the bottom of the seventh.

The Crusaders scored on their first trip to the plate following a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt and a single to left field. Bucknell also threatened in the first inning when Horn led off with a single and was moved to second on a Rivait sacrifice bunt. The Bison were able to load the bases thanks to a Holy Cross error and a one-out walk by Chase Knapp, but the Crusaders got back-to-back outs to get out of the jam.

Horn reached again in the bottom of the third on a walk, and two straight Bucknell singles allowed her to tie the game.

Holy Cross' second run came during a three-hit fourth inning that included a double to right field. Bucknell saw four more baserunners over the final three and a half innings, but it was unable to even things up.

Toomey ended up with eight strikeouts and six hits allowed.

Game Two: Holy Cross 1, Bucknell 0

The second game of the day also came down to a big play at the plate, as the only run scored was a result of an obstruction call on the Bison catcher. With two outs and a Crusader on second base in the top of the fifth, Holy Cross singled to left field, and rookie Ava Aguilar made an outstanding throw home. After the Holy Cross runner was initially tagged out, Smith was called for obstructing the plate and the run was counted to make it a 1-0 game.

Horn and Smith had Bucknell's only two hits in the contest, and two reached on walks.

Holy Cross' Kelly Nelson, the Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year, threw eight strikeouts in seven innings. Bucknell's Marinelli went the distance as well and struck out three while allowing six hits and no earned runs.

Three of Holy Cross' hits went for extra bases, and the Bison committed the only two errors in the game.