Bucknell University
6-37, 2-14
Lafayette
8-32, 1-12
Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader at Lafayette
4/30/2022 6:03:00 PM | Softball
EASTON, Pa. – The Bucknell softball team split its Saturday doubleheader at Lafayette, winning game one 4-0 before falling 6-4 in game two. Sophomore Zoie Smith went 4-for-6 with a walk, two doubles and two RBIs over the two games to make for a strong day the plate, and MaKenzie Hilling recorded two of the four RBIs in game one.
Junior Olivia Marinelli collected the win in the first game after allowing just three hits in 5.1 innings pitched and tossing five strikeouts with no walks.
The Bison added eight hits in game two but were unable to recover from a big four-run first inning. Kaiya Burton received the loss, while Madison Roukey and Kelly Toomey also made appearances in the circle.
The Saturday split set the scene for a rubber match at Lafayette on Sunday. The game is scheduled to begin at noon and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Game One: Bucknell 4, Lafayette 0
Marinelli limited the Leopards to just one hit over the first three innings, allowing the Bison to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Bucknell added two more runs in the fourth and another in the sixth to arrive at the 4-0 shutout. Hilling went 2-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice bunt in the game.
Ava Aguilar led off the third with a double and advanced on the Hilling sac bunt before scoring on a Nicole Rivait sac fly, accounting for the first run of the day.
After the Leopards were retired in order in the bottom half of the third, Chase Knapp reached on an error to start the two-run top of the fourth, and the first four batters of the inning made it on base. Knapp scored on a fielder's choice, and Jessie Kincer made it across following a two-out single through the left side by Hilling.
The Bison went scoreless in the fifth, but they added their fourth run when Aguilar led off the sixth with a walk and was driven in by Hilling's double in the next at-bat.
Lafayette saw its best scoring opportunity in the bottom of the sixth when Bella Lowdermilk led off with a single and was moved to second on a sac bunt, which brought Toomey off the bench to take the circle. The senior allowed no hits over the final 1.2 innings and threw a pair of strikeouts.
E6 | Bucknell 4, Lafayette 0
— Bucknell Softball (@Bucknell_SB) April 30, 2022
Toomey enters the game and strikes out two to put an end to the inning. An awesome outing for Olivia Marinelli, who allows just three hits in 5.1 innings with five strikeouts.
Watch: https://t.co/F2NFdqO0eX pic.twitter.com/2mMDbNoAsU
The win snapped an 11-game losing skid for Bucknell, and it was the team's 20th consecutive victory over Lafayette.
Game Two: Lafayette 6, Bucknell 4
Bucknell was on the cusp of regaining the lead several times after falling behind 4-0 early in game two, but the Leopards did just enough late to hold on for the win. Smith posted two RBI doubles in the contest, bringing the Bison within two runs of tying on two separate occasions.
The Leopards posted five hits in the first inning, including four with two outs and a pair of doubles. Back-to-back doubles followed by three straight singles and a wild pitch allowed the Leopards to take the 4-0 advantage.
Bucknell settled in defensively from that point on and gave up just one run in the third and another in the fifth. Meanwhile on offense, the Bison posted hits in every inning other than the seventh.
Trailing 5-0 in the top of the fourth, Bucknell posted three hits and a walk to score three runs and cut into the lead. Hilling drove in a run with a single to center field, Aguilar scored on a fielder's choice, and Smith's double to right sent another run across.
After giving up another run in the fifth, Bucknell took advantage of a dropped fly ball with two away in the sixth, and Smith doubled again to make it 6-4.
M6 | Lafayette 6, Bucknell 4
— Bucknell Softball (@Bucknell_SB) April 30, 2022
Zoie Smith with her second RBI double of the game.
Watch: https://t.co/Sq44GPd8aV pic.twitter.com/5HHRGKAFtl
It was as close as the Bison would get, however, as they went down in order in the top of the seventh.
Burton went the first three innings and allowed five runs on seven hits while striking out four. Lafayette's Jacqueline Cal received the win, allowing one run in 3.2 innings.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Marinelli, Olivia (1-10)
L: Van Wyk, Kinzi (5-13)
Batting:
2B: Aguilar, Ava 1 ; Hilling, MaKenzie 1
RBI: Hilling, MaKenzie 2 ; Rivait, Nicole 1 ; Radican, Bella 1
SH: Hilling, MaKenzie 1
SF: Rivait, Nicole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aguilar, Ava 2 ; Knapp, Chase 1 ; Kincer, Jessie 1
HBP: Baluch, Sarah 2
Batting:
SH: Sandidge, Paige 1
Base Running:
CS: Harvey, Grace 1
HBP: Miner, Natasha 1
