Bucknell University
5-9
Coppin State University
1-2
Softball Splits Final Day at Towson
3/5/2023 9:22:00 PM | Softball
Towson, Md.- The Bucknell Bison softball team (5-10) split the final day at The TU Demarini Invite beating Coppin State 9-3 and losing to Towson 4-2.
The Bison trailed a decent chunk of the game against Coppin State. It was a reversal of yesterday's game against the Eagles which saw Bucknell win 14-0. The Bison rallied in the fifth inning for seven runs and tacked on two runs to seal the win. Bucknell scored first against Towson on a Chase Knapp home run, but the Tigers bit back to take the lead. The Orange & Blue scored one more run but could not complete the rally.
"Happy that we won the weekend," said head coach Sarah Caffrey. "I think we showed up well in all three games and it is fun to see all three phrases start to be consistent. We're not satisfied with the outcomes but I know that is a result of our process and we're starting to do several of the little things well. Spring break will be another test and then we are ready for Patriot League play."
Game One: Bucknell 9, Coppin State 3
Savannah Jones started in the circle for Bucknell.
The first 1 ½ innings were mostly quiet. Neither team advanced any serious threat in the first inning. Bucknell had a chance to score in the top of the second inning when Zoie Smith walked and stole both second and third base but a grounder left the catcher stranded.
Coppin State scored the icebreaker run in their half of the second. A fielding error placed a runner on second and another error scored the runner for a 1-0 Coppin lead.
Coppin State added to their lead in the third inning. A walk and a double scored a run. A fly-out moved the runner to third and an infield single scored them. Coppin State placed another runner but Jones prevented any more damage to keep it at 3-0.
Chase Knapp tripled in the fourth inning, but she was left at third base.
Bucknell broke through in the fifth inning. Angelina Seropian doubled, and Noelle Gardon singled and then stole second. Annabella Hawkins hit a bunt single to load the bases. A fielding error by the pitcher scored a run. A MaKenzie Hilling single scored two runs to tie it up. A passed ball scored the leading run. Jones walked, and Smith singled to reload the bases. A new pitcher entered the circle for Coppin State, who promptly hit Knapp to score the fifth run. A Kailyn Lorberter single added another RBI. Seropian, in her second at-bat of the inning, hit an RBI grounder. A strikeout ended the frame, but Bucknell was up 7-3.
Olivia Marinelli, who entered the game in the fourth inning, continued her dominance of the Eagles, allowing zero hits over the final four innings.
The Bison added insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Jones and Smith singled, and both advanced on a wild pitch. Lorberter used a squeeze play to score the first run. Seropian doubled for another RBI. A lineout ended the inning, but Bucknell was up 9-3.
Marinelli shut down the Eagles 1-2-3 to seal the win.
Game Two: Towson 4, Bucknell 2
Madison Roukey started in the circle for Bucknell.
The Bison struck first in the second inning when Chase Knapp went yard for a solo shot. It was the senior's second home run of the season. Bucknell had a chance to expand the lead as they loaded the bases when Lorberter reached on a fielding error, Gardon walked, and Haley Speicher singled. Elena Horn grounded out sharply to end the inning.
Towson immediately countered in their frame. Two singles and a wild pitch scored the first Towson run. A fielding error with two outs extended the inning. Towson took advantage with back-to-back singles to score two more runs. Kaiya Burton entered the circle in relief and obtained the final out, but Towson led 3-1.
The three innings passed without any serious scoring threats by each team. Both pitchers were in control of the opposition.
Bucknell tallied a run in the sixth inning. Smith doubled, and Gardon walked. Seropian came up with two outs and stroked a single to left field. Bucknell was down 3-2. But Speicher grounded out to end the frame.
As in the second inning, Towson answered. A leadoff double and sacrifice bunt allowed a single to score the runner. Burton rallied to end the frame, but Towson had the crucial insurance run.
Horn reached on a fielding error to start the inning, but the Bison batters were retired on two flyouts and a lineout to end the game.
Up Next
The Bison head south to Florida for The Spring Games and a matchup with ranked Florida.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Marinelli, Olivia (2-1)
L: RONYAK,Shawnee (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Seropian, Angelina 2
3B: Knapp, Chase 1
RBI: Radican, Bella 1 ; Hilling, MaKenzie 1 ; Knapp, Chase 1 ; Lorberter, Kailyn 2 ; Seropian, Angelina 2
SH: Lorberter, Kailyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Radican, Bella 1 ; Hilling, MaKenzie 1 ; Jones, Savannah 1 ; Lioumis, Nicole 1 ; Smith, Zoie 1 ; Knapp, Chase 1 ; Seropian, Angelina 1 ; Gardon, Noelle 1 ; Hawkins, Annabella 1
SB: Smith, Zoie 2 ; Gardon, Noelle 1
HBP: Knapp, Chase 1
Batting:
2B: ESPARZA,Seryna 1
RBI: ESPARZA,Seryna 1 ; FONOTI,Manaia 1
SH: PETERSON,Avianna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CARRIZOSA,Vanessa 1 ; ESPARZA,Seryna 1 ; RONYAK,Shawnee 1
