Tuesday, April 25
Loretto, Pa.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
13-27
0
at
1
Saint Francis University
21-22
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Bucknell
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
Saint Francis
0
0
1
0
0
0
X
1
4
0
Softball Falls in Doubleheader
4/25/2023 5:58:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison softball team (13-28, 5-10 PL) lost 1-0 and 13-4 (5) in a doubleheader to Saint Francis University on Tuesday. The Bison offense had opportunities but left 10 runners on base in the 1-0 loss. The offense scored in the second game but the Red Flash bats pounded out 18 hits to invoke the mercy run-rule.
Game One Recap: Saint Francis 1, Bucknell 0
Olivia Marinelli started in the circle for the Bison and tossed a splendid game.
Both teams generated little offense during the first two innings as the pitchers were in control from the onset.
The Bison had a golden chance in the top of the third inning. Elena Horn led off with a walk and stole second. Noelle Gardon laid down a beautiful bunt to advance her to third. Haley Speicher, the reigning Patriot League rookie of the week, hit an infield single and swiped second. MaKenzie Hilling walked to load the bases. With the heart of the batting order up, the Bison looked prime to draw first blood but Zoie Smith popped up and Savannah Jones grounded out to end the inning.
Saint Francis used the momentum from the stop to score the sole run in their third frame. A leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt placed a runner on second. A double in the gap from SFU's leading hitter Jordan Pietrzykoski scored the runner. Marinelli rallied to prevent any more damage but SFU had the 1-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Chase Knapp led off with a walk and she advanced to second on a grounder. Ava Aguilar hit a double to short left field but the left fielder threw a missile to home plate to nab Knapp. A grounder then ended the frame.
The Bison had another prime chance in the sixth inning. Smith led off her with 14th double of the season and Jones was hit by a pitch. However, three straight outs followed to extinguish the flame.
Bucknell had one last big chance to tie the game in the final inning. With one out, Gardon walked and Speicher singled. Hilling hit into a fielder's choice for the second out but Zoie Smith walked to load the bases. But Jones popped up and SFU escaped with a win.
Game Two Recap: Saint Francis 13, Bucknell 4 (5)
The Bison drew first blood scoring a run in the first inning. Speicher singled and stole second and Hilling walked. Smith popped up and Jones reached on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Kailyn Lorberter singled up the middle to score Speicher. Aguilar tried to keep it going but her sharp grounder was collected by the pitcher for the final out.
Kaiya Burton started in the circle for the Bison but did not stay long. A pop-up started the inning but a double, a wild pitch, and a single happened to tie the game at 1-1. A single and two doubles scored three more runs and brought in Madison Roukey. Roukey doused the flames by inducing two outs to end the wildfire but SFU was up 4-1.
In the second inning, Saint Francis continued to score. Two doubles and a single started the Red Flash's frame and scored one run. A grounder scored another run for the 6-1 advantage.
Bucknell counterattacked in the third inning. Speicher and Hilling singled to start the frame. A fielder's choice placed Speicher on third and Jones' sacrifice fly scored her to cut the deficit to 6-2.
Hunter Vestal entered the circle in the third inning. SFU scored seven runs to seize control of the game. A home run led off the inning. A grounder followed with two singles afterwards and another grounder. Bella Radican misplayed a grounder that led to two SFU runs and extended the inning. A walk followed and Mea Consentino entered the game in relief. Two home runs occurred next for a 13-2 SFU lead. Two more singles and a wild pitch happened but a pop-up mercifully ended the inning.
Neither team scored in the bottom of the fourth inning. SFU had the best opportunity by loading the bases with one out. A shallow fly was lifted to center field. Speicher ran up and made the play. SFU decided to send the runner and test Speicher. A test that they failed as Speicher threw a laser home for the inning ending double play.
Bucknell needed to score four runs in the fifth inning to extend the game and nearly pulled it off. Juliette Basso singled and Speicher reached on a throwing error that send Basso to third and herself to second. A grounder by Annabella Hawkins scored Basso. An RBI single by Smith tallied Speicher. But two straight outs ended the game early with SFU winning 13-4.
Milestones
Zoie Smith's 14th double of the year ranks tied for ninth all-time in the Bucknell single-season total.
Noelle Gardon has now racked up 25 walks to place her fifth all-time in Bucknell single-season history.
Up Next
The Bison conclude nonconference play with a doubleheader on Saturday at St. John's.
Game One Recap: Saint Francis 1, Bucknell 0
Olivia Marinelli started in the circle for the Bison and tossed a splendid game.
Both teams generated little offense during the first two innings as the pitchers were in control from the onset.
The Bison had a golden chance in the top of the third inning. Elena Horn led off with a walk and stole second. Noelle Gardon laid down a beautiful bunt to advance her to third. Haley Speicher, the reigning Patriot League rookie of the week, hit an infield single and swiped second. MaKenzie Hilling walked to load the bases. With the heart of the batting order up, the Bison looked prime to draw first blood but Zoie Smith popped up and Savannah Jones grounded out to end the inning.
Saint Francis used the momentum from the stop to score the sole run in their third frame. A leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt placed a runner on second. A double in the gap from SFU's leading hitter Jordan Pietrzykoski scored the runner. Marinelli rallied to prevent any more damage but SFU had the 1-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Chase Knapp led off with a walk and she advanced to second on a grounder. Ava Aguilar hit a double to short left field but the left fielder threw a missile to home plate to nab Knapp. A grounder then ended the frame.
The Bison had another prime chance in the sixth inning. Smith led off her with 14th double of the season and Jones was hit by a pitch. However, three straight outs followed to extinguish the flame.
Bucknell had one last big chance to tie the game in the final inning. With one out, Gardon walked and Speicher singled. Hilling hit into a fielder's choice for the second out but Zoie Smith walked to load the bases. But Jones popped up and SFU escaped with a win.
Game Two Recap: Saint Francis 13, Bucknell 4 (5)
The Bison drew first blood scoring a run in the first inning. Speicher singled and stole second and Hilling walked. Smith popped up and Jones reached on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Kailyn Lorberter singled up the middle to score Speicher. Aguilar tried to keep it going but her sharp grounder was collected by the pitcher for the final out.
Kaiya Burton started in the circle for the Bison but did not stay long. A pop-up started the inning but a double, a wild pitch, and a single happened to tie the game at 1-1. A single and two doubles scored three more runs and brought in Madison Roukey. Roukey doused the flames by inducing two outs to end the wildfire but SFU was up 4-1.
In the second inning, Saint Francis continued to score. Two doubles and a single started the Red Flash's frame and scored one run. A grounder scored another run for the 6-1 advantage.
Bucknell counterattacked in the third inning. Speicher and Hilling singled to start the frame. A fielder's choice placed Speicher on third and Jones' sacrifice fly scored her to cut the deficit to 6-2.
Hunter Vestal entered the circle in the third inning. SFU scored seven runs to seize control of the game. A home run led off the inning. A grounder followed with two singles afterwards and another grounder. Bella Radican misplayed a grounder that led to two SFU runs and extended the inning. A walk followed and Mea Consentino entered the game in relief. Two home runs occurred next for a 13-2 SFU lead. Two more singles and a wild pitch happened but a pop-up mercifully ended the inning.
Neither team scored in the bottom of the fourth inning. SFU had the best opportunity by loading the bases with one out. A shallow fly was lifted to center field. Speicher ran up and made the play. SFU decided to send the runner and test Speicher. A test that they failed as Speicher threw a laser home for the inning ending double play.
Bucknell needed to score four runs in the fifth inning to extend the game and nearly pulled it off. Juliette Basso singled and Speicher reached on a throwing error that send Basso to third and herself to second. A grounder by Annabella Hawkins scored Basso. An RBI single by Smith tallied Speicher. But two straight outs ended the game early with SFU winning 13-4.
Milestones
Zoie Smith's 14th double of the year ranks tied for ninth all-time in the Bucknell single-season total.
Noelle Gardon has now racked up 25 walks to place her fifth all-time in Bucknell single-season history.
Up Next
The Bison conclude nonconference play with a doubleheader on Saturday at St. John's.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: VESCO, Grace (13-11)
L: Marinelli, Olivia (3-6)
Batting:
2B: Smith, Zoie 1 ; Aguilar, Ava 1
SH: Gardon, Noelle 1
Base Running:
SB: Speicher, Haley 1 ; Horn, Elena 1
HBP: Jones, Savannah 1
Batting:
2B: PIETRZYKOSKI, Jordan 1 ; ULAM, Olivia 1
RBI: PIETRZYKOSKI, Jordan 1
SH: BARNES, Madeline 2
Base Running:
RUNS: ORISCHAK, Ashley 1
HBP: ORISCHAK, Ashley 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
Util
/ SoftballUtil
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
Util
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC/UT
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP/INF
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