Softball Downed by Penn State on the Road, 5-1

Tuesday, March 29

University Park, Pa.

6 p.m.

Bucknell University

4-23

Penn State

19-13

Bucknell

Penn State

3/29/2022 9:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Bucknell softball team led 6-5 in hits and posted three doubles, but a big fourth inning for the Nittany Lions lifted Penn State to a 5-1 victory over the Bison on Tuesday evening.

With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, Penn State collected a walk, two singles and a grand slam to take a 5-0 lead over the Bison. Bucknell responded with a run in the top of the fifth, but that was the only damage it was able to do while leaving nine runners on base in the game.

Senior Nicole Rivait, who has been outstanding in games against Penn State during her career, went 2-for-4 with a double and Bucknell's only RBI. Rookies MaKenzie Hilling and Juliette Basso hit doubles as well, and Hilling reached two more times on walks.

Junior Kaiya Burton made the start in the circle for Bucknell and went three innings in the circle before being replaced by Madison Roukey.

Bucknell threatened early on in the evening as Hilling reached on a walk and Rivait moved her to third with a one-out double in the top of the first, but the Bison were unable to capitalize. Bucknell got runners in scoring position again in the third and fourth innings before Penn State broke the game open.

The Nittany Lions had just one hit through the first three innings but posted three in the fourth, including a four-run home run by senior Lilia Crouthamel. Penn State also scored on a single to right field in the inning.

Bucknell's fifth inning run was a result of a two-out double down the left field line by Hilling and a subsequent Rivait single. The Bison managed to load the bases again in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a leadoff single by Chase Knapp and a pair of walks.

Roukey allowed two hits and one earned run. Kelly Toomey threw the final 1.1 innings and struck out three. Penn State's Vanessa Oatley received the win and improved to 2-1 on the season.

Bucknell heads to Boston, Mass. this weekend for its second Patriot League series of the season. The Bison open the series with a doubleheader against the Terriers on Saturday, April 2.