Friday, February 9
Conway, SC
10 a.m.
Bucknell University
1-0
7
vs
0
George Washington
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Bucknell
0
2
0
0
2
2
1
7
9
2
George Washington
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
2
Softball Blanks George Washington 7-0 on Opening Day
2/9/2024 3:15:00 PM | Softball
CONWAY, S.C. - The Bucknell Bison softball team (1-1) opened 2024 by avenging last year's opening day loss versus George Washington with a 7-0 blanking of the newly christened Revolutionaries and valiantly fighting ACC foe Syracuse to a 3-0 defeat. It is Bucknell's first game win since the Bison defeated North Carolina A&T in 2021.
Coach Caffrey's Call
"I'm proud of how we came out and battled with being our first day on dirt. Everybody contributed today and set the tone for the rest of the weekend. The pitching staff has a high standard, and they started the year with the mindset that anyone who comes in will attack the zone and give us a chance to win. That's something I'm proud of."
"I thought our defense was solid, and we made plays in the field. The hitting in game one was fun to watch. I'm excited to see how we adjust as hitters from game two today, but I'm proud of how we competed on day one against two good teams."
George Washington Recap
The Bison were set down 1-2-3 to start the 2024 season. George Washington's Brice cracked a leadoff double, but Madison Roukey remained indifferent to the threat, inducing three straight outs, with the final putout coming via strikeout to preserve the shutout.
Bucknell struck for two runs in the second inning. Savannah Jones singled, and two Revolutionaries' errors allowed Annabella Hawkins and Brooke Popella to load the bases. MaKenzie Hilling hit a sacrifice fly to score Jones. Popella was thrown out trying to reach third. Noelle Gardon saved the inning with a double to score Hawkins. Gardon was called out trying to stretch the double into a triple.
The Revolutionaries had a golden chance in their frame to tie the game. A one-out walk and an error placed two runners on the basepaths. Roukey stabilized and earned two outs to end the materializing threat.
Neither team advanced many threats in the third inning. George Washington had two hits, but a double play erased any chance of their scoring.
With two outs in the fourth inning, George Washington placed two runners on base. Their manager inserted a pinch hitter. Roukey, once again, extinguished the potential brushfire with a grounder to Hawkins.
The Bison broke up the game in the fifth inning. Hilling walked, and Ava Aguilar singled, setting the stage for Molly Lawson to shine. The freshman slammed a double into the left field gap, and the Bison led 4-0. George Washington used wholesale substitutions to obtain the final two outs.
Again, the Revolutionaries threatened with base-runners, but Bison's junior hurler shut down any opportunities.
Bucknell added two insurance runs in the sixth inning. Popella walked, and Nicole Lioumis pinch-ran for her. Hawkins singled to right field and advanced to second while Lioumis darted to third. Hilling smacked a single down the left field line, and the Bison had the 6-0 lead.
George Washington recorded two hits in the sixth inning, but again no runs scored. With two outs, a single went into the outfield, but a magnificent relay from Jones to Smith gunned down the runner at home plate to end the frame.
Bucknell added an insurance run in the seventh inning. Zoie Smith reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Popella's sacrifice fly.
Savannah Jones entered the circle in the bottom of the seventh inning and obtained three consecutive outs to seal the 7-0 victory.
Syracuse Recap
Lawson walked to start the second game, but the Bison could not capitalize on her free pass. Hunter Vestal received in the start for Bucknell, allowed a single, and threw a wild pitch. The senior settled down and obtained three straight outs.
Syracuse hit a single and drew a walk in the second inning, but Vestal pitched around trouble and escaped without yielding a run.
Lawson drew another walk in the third inning, but Bucknell failed to prosper. Sarah Zimmerman made her collegiate debut starting the frame. Zimmerman's appearance had a challenging start, yielding Bucknell's first run of the game and season. Two infield singles started the inning, followed by a double steal. A sacrifice fly drove in a run. Zimmerman relaxed and prevented further damage, but Syracuse led 1-0.
The Orange added another run in the fourth inning using back-to-back doubles to deliver the blow. Zimmerman fortified and held the ACC team to that one run.
Syracuse started the fifth inning with a double and a single, scoring its third run. That was all for Zimmerman as Mea Consentino entered the circle. Consentino, who had a solid fall, provided immediate results with three straight outs.
Boosted by her showing, Bucknell had its best scoring chance in the sixth inning. Haley Speicher and Lawson singled with no outs. Juliette Basso pinch hit for Elena Horn but hit into a double play. Smith followed with a long foul ball to left field. The moment was lost.
Bucknell used three pinch hitters in the final stanza. But Shea Malone, Bella Radican, and Lioumis went down 1-2-3 to end the game.
Up Next
The Bison return to action at the Kickin' Chicken Classic tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. when they play Campbell. A nightcap game against host Coastal Carolina follows at 6 p.m. That contest will be streamed on ESPN+.
Coach Caffrey's Call
"I'm proud of how we came out and battled with being our first day on dirt. Everybody contributed today and set the tone for the rest of the weekend. The pitching staff has a high standard, and they started the year with the mindset that anyone who comes in will attack the zone and give us a chance to win. That's something I'm proud of."
"I thought our defense was solid, and we made plays in the field. The hitting in game one was fun to watch. I'm excited to see how we adjust as hitters from game two today, but I'm proud of how we competed on day one against two good teams."
George Washington Recap
The Bison were set down 1-2-3 to start the 2024 season. George Washington's Brice cracked a leadoff double, but Madison Roukey remained indifferent to the threat, inducing three straight outs, with the final putout coming via strikeout to preserve the shutout.
Bucknell struck for two runs in the second inning. Savannah Jones singled, and two Revolutionaries' errors allowed Annabella Hawkins and Brooke Popella to load the bases. MaKenzie Hilling hit a sacrifice fly to score Jones. Popella was thrown out trying to reach third. Noelle Gardon saved the inning with a double to score Hawkins. Gardon was called out trying to stretch the double into a triple.
The Revolutionaries had a golden chance in their frame to tie the game. A one-out walk and an error placed two runners on the basepaths. Roukey stabilized and earned two outs to end the materializing threat.
Neither team advanced many threats in the third inning. George Washington had two hits, but a double play erased any chance of their scoring.
With two outs in the fourth inning, George Washington placed two runners on base. Their manager inserted a pinch hitter. Roukey, once again, extinguished the potential brushfire with a grounder to Hawkins.
The Bison broke up the game in the fifth inning. Hilling walked, and Ava Aguilar singled, setting the stage for Molly Lawson to shine. The freshman slammed a double into the left field gap, and the Bison led 4-0. George Washington used wholesale substitutions to obtain the final two outs.
Again, the Revolutionaries threatened with base-runners, but Bison's junior hurler shut down any opportunities.
Bucknell added two insurance runs in the sixth inning. Popella walked, and Nicole Lioumis pinch-ran for her. Hawkins singled to right field and advanced to second while Lioumis darted to third. Hilling smacked a single down the left field line, and the Bison had the 6-0 lead.
George Washington recorded two hits in the sixth inning, but again no runs scored. With two outs, a single went into the outfield, but a magnificent relay from Jones to Smith gunned down the runner at home plate to end the frame.
Bucknell added an insurance run in the seventh inning. Zoie Smith reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Popella's sacrifice fly.
Savannah Jones entered the circle in the bottom of the seventh inning and obtained three consecutive outs to seal the 7-0 victory.
Syracuse Recap
Lawson walked to start the second game, but the Bison could not capitalize on her free pass. Hunter Vestal received in the start for Bucknell, allowed a single, and threw a wild pitch. The senior settled down and obtained three straight outs.
Syracuse hit a single and drew a walk in the second inning, but Vestal pitched around trouble and escaped without yielding a run.
Lawson drew another walk in the third inning, but Bucknell failed to prosper. Sarah Zimmerman made her collegiate debut starting the frame. Zimmerman's appearance had a challenging start, yielding Bucknell's first run of the game and season. Two infield singles started the inning, followed by a double steal. A sacrifice fly drove in a run. Zimmerman relaxed and prevented further damage, but Syracuse led 1-0.
The Orange added another run in the fourth inning using back-to-back doubles to deliver the blow. Zimmerman fortified and held the ACC team to that one run.
Syracuse started the fifth inning with a double and a single, scoring its third run. That was all for Zimmerman as Mea Consentino entered the circle. Consentino, who had a solid fall, provided immediate results with three straight outs.
Boosted by her showing, Bucknell had its best scoring chance in the sixth inning. Haley Speicher and Lawson singled with no outs. Juliette Basso pinch hit for Elena Horn but hit into a double play. Smith followed with a long foul ball to left field. The moment was lost.
Bucknell used three pinch hitters in the final stanza. But Shea Malone, Bella Radican, and Lioumis went down 1-2-3 to end the game.
Up Next
The Bison return to action at the Kickin' Chicken Classic tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. when they play Campbell. A nightcap game against host Coastal Carolina follows at 6 p.m. That contest will be streamed on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Roukey, Madison (1-0)
L: CANO, Rose (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Lawson, Molly 1 ; Gardon, Noelle 1
RBI: Lawson, Molly 2 ; Popella, Brooke 1 ; Hilling, MaKenzie 3 ; Gardon, Noelle 1
SH: Hawkins, Annabella 1
SF: Popella, Brooke 1 ; Hilling, MaKenzie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Zoie 1 ; Jones, Savannah 1 ; Lioumis, Nicole 1 ; Hawkins, Annabella 2 ; Hilling, MaKenzie 1 ; Aguilar, Ava 1
SB: Jones, Savannah 1
Batting:
2B: BRICE, Rylee 1 ; HEFFLEY, Allison 1
Base Running:
SB: CORPUZ, Ashley 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
lf/p
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballRHP/OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C/Util
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
LHP/OF
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