Softball Journeys to Lehigh for Pivotal Patriot League Series

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison softball team (9-17, 1-2 PL) journeys to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to play in-state rival the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in a Patriot League showdown. Lehigh is 24-6 (3-0 PL) and coming off a three-game sweep of Lafayette. Bucknell is 1-2 in Patriot League play after battling Colgate in three tightly-fought contests. The Bison narrowly missed starting conference play 3-0.

The Starting Lineup
What: Patriot League Series against Lehigh
Where: Leadership Park (Bethlehem, Pa.)
When: April 1-2

Bucknell Schedule (All Times EST)

Saturday, April 1
12:00 p.m. | at. Lehigh | Live Stats
2:00 p.m. | at. Lehigh | Live Stats

Sunday, April 2
12:00 p.m. | at. Lehigh | Live Stats

Coach Caffrey's Call

"I am excited to face one of the top teams in our league this weekend. I think we are making great improvements to the way we play our game and we just want to keep that intensity. We have had a great week preparing for Lehigh. We have moved on from Colgate, but not before digesting what we need to do to learn from that experience. Right now, we have to finish games. We're in it. We're fighting. Now we need to finish it."

The Inside "Herd" on the Bison

Bucknell went 1-2 against Colgate in the opening series of Patriot League play. Bucknell won 4-1 in Game Two and lost 10-8 and 5-3 in Games One and Three. The Bison held a late lead in both games but could not close the door.
Hunter Vestal pitched three innings in the second game to clinch her first collegiate victory.
Zoie Smith continued her sensational season going 5-for-8 with two doubles and four RBIs. Smith now has 11 two-sackers on the season, which ranks her twelfth nationally. Her doubles mark has her firmly in first place in the Patriot League in said category.
The Bison continue to rank top three in the PL in batting average, shutouts, saves, and triples.

Overview of the Opposition

Lehigh-The Mountain Hawks are 24-6 overall and 3-0 in Patriot League. Lehigh was picked to finish second by the coaches and SIDs in the preseason poll. The Mountain Hawks received sixth first-place votes to Boston's league-leading eight nods. Lehigh has three batters hitting above .300, most notably Josie Charles, with a scorching .454 average. Emily Cimino provides the juice with 27 RBIs and six home runs. The Bethlehem team, utilizes three key pitchers, with Katelyn Young's ten wins leading the trio.

History with the Foe

Lehigh- Bucknell trails the all-time series 100-47. The first game was played back in 1979. Lehigh is the most-played opponent in the Bucknell softball canon. Bucknell has lost the last eight out of nine to Lehigh, but three losses were by one run, and two defeats were by two runs.

Up Next

On Easter weekend, the Bison travel to Army for a three-game series.