Friday, March 8
Madeira Beach, FL
10 a.m.
Bucknell University
6-10
1
vs
5
LIU
7-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Bucknell
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
5
0
Long Island
0
0
4
0
1
0
X
5
10
0
Softball Defeats Central Michigan On Day One of The Spring Games
3/8/2024 3:29:00 PM | Softball
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla.- The Bucknell Bison softball team (7-10) fell 5-1 to the reigning NEC champion LIU Sharks (7-9) and defeated MAC foe Central Michigan University (1-15), 8-5 on Friday at the annual Spring Games.
The Bison could not get the bats going against the potent LIU pitching staff and the Sharks used a four-run third inning to create the decisive advantage. Bucknell played on even terms with the New York team but was unable to close the gap.
Bucknell found more success in the second game, scoring all eight runs in the first two frames. Zoie Smith hit a three-run homer to lead the Orange & Blue attack. Sarah Zimmerman pitched in relief and obtained her first collegiate victory. CMU made events exciting in the seventh inning, tallying two runs and loading the bases before Savannah Jones obtained the final out.
LIU Recap
Bucknell threatened in the opening inning. Elena Horn and Haley Speicher started the contest with infield singles. Smith hit into a fielder's choice advancing Horn to third base. Smith then stole second. The threat passed when Brooke Popella struck out and Jones grounded out.
Jones started in the circle and had a 1-2-3 inning. LIU advanced a serious scoring threat in the second inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. The lead runner was eliminated by a force out at home. A pop-up ended the inning without any harm.
Bucknell was not fortunate in the third inning. A single and a double scored the opening tally. A grounder followed and another double occurred to make it 2-0. Coach Sarah Caffrey inserted Hunter Vestal into the circle, moved Jones to designated player, and had Smith replaced Angelina Seorpian at catcher. The moves did not stop the hitting. The next hitter singled and stole second. A walk loaded the bases but a foul out followed. Unfortunately, a single up the middle plated two more runs. Vestal obtained a grounder to escape the inning but LIU led 4-0.
The Bison counterattacked for a run in the next frame. Smith led off with her special maneuver: a double. Popella and Jones made outs but MaKenzie Hilling sneaked another double down the left field line to score Smith. The inning ended with an Annabella Hawking strikeout.
LIU added another run in the fifth. A leadoff single started the proceedings. The runner advanced to second on a grounder and scored on another single for the 5-1 lead.
As per typical fortitude, Bucknell did not go down quietly. The Bison loaded the bases in the seventh inning. With one out, Nicole Lioumis walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Shea Malone fouled out. Noelle Gardon and Horn both walked. Smith loomed behind Speicher but the sophomore center fielder's grounder ended the contest.
Central Michigan Recap
Madison Roukey started in the circle for the Bison. The Chippewas almost scored first. They placed runners on the corners with two outs and then the first base runner advanced to second. Roukey stayed calm and ended the inning with a swinging strikeout.
Bucknell's offense boomed out to a 5-0 lead. Horn walked, Speicher singled to left field, and Smith walked to load the bases. Popella scored a run via a sacrifice fly. Hilling singled through the right side to score another run. Jones reached on a throwing error by the third baseman as Smith darted across the plate. Malone dropped down a bunt which scored the fourth and fifth runs as Bucknell went aggressive on the base paths. Bella Radican struck out but the Bison had the 5-0 lead.
CMU placed two runners on the bases in the second inning. A leadoff walk and a single with advancement on the throw put runners on second and third. Roukey again stayed cool. It was not Knapp Time for CMU as their Knapp struck out looking, a sacrifice fly did score one run, and a line out kept the damage at one run.
The Orange & Blue Crew plated three runs in response. Horn laid down a beautiful bunt single. Speicher singled down the left field line. Smith strolled to the plate and unleashed a magnificent three-run home run. CMU inserted a new pitcher who ended the inning in a 1-2-3 fashion and would only allow one further hit for the Bison.
CMU broke through for a run in the fourth inning. A double and single placed runners at the corners. The first base runner left early and was called out. Another double scored the second run. Sarah Zimmerman entered in relief with two outs and obtained a swinging strikeout.
Zimmerman pitched the next two innings and acquitted herself well except for yielding a solo home run. The rookie pitcher tossed two strikeouts and earned the win as Roukey missed the necessary innings by one out. It is Zimmerman's first collegiate wins and undoubtedly the first of many for the young pitcher.
The Bison's sole hit over the final five innings occurred in the sixth inning when Marissa Rapino pinch hit for Radican and smashed a double into right center field. Lioumis also pinch hit and reached on an error. The Bison appeared ready to add more runs but Juliette Basso and Smith struck out.
Jones entered the circle in the seventh inning to finish the game. The Chippewas showing great heart did not yield quietly. The first four batters hit singles and reached on a Gardon error to score a run. A strikeout was the first out and a grounder scoring the second run was out number two. A walk reloaded the bases. Jones knuckled down and obtained a fly ball to sure-handed Speicher to end the game.
Up Next
The Bison play two more games tomorrow against Siena at 12:30 p.m. and Manhattan at 5:30 p.m.
The Bison could not get the bats going against the potent LIU pitching staff and the Sharks used a four-run third inning to create the decisive advantage. Bucknell played on even terms with the New York team but was unable to close the gap.
Bucknell found more success in the second game, scoring all eight runs in the first two frames. Zoie Smith hit a three-run homer to lead the Orange & Blue attack. Sarah Zimmerman pitched in relief and obtained her first collegiate victory. CMU made events exciting in the seventh inning, tallying two runs and loading the bases before Savannah Jones obtained the final out.
LIU Recap
Bucknell threatened in the opening inning. Elena Horn and Haley Speicher started the contest with infield singles. Smith hit into a fielder's choice advancing Horn to third base. Smith then stole second. The threat passed when Brooke Popella struck out and Jones grounded out.
Jones started in the circle and had a 1-2-3 inning. LIU advanced a serious scoring threat in the second inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. The lead runner was eliminated by a force out at home. A pop-up ended the inning without any harm.
Bucknell was not fortunate in the third inning. A single and a double scored the opening tally. A grounder followed and another double occurred to make it 2-0. Coach Sarah Caffrey inserted Hunter Vestal into the circle, moved Jones to designated player, and had Smith replaced Angelina Seorpian at catcher. The moves did not stop the hitting. The next hitter singled and stole second. A walk loaded the bases but a foul out followed. Unfortunately, a single up the middle plated two more runs. Vestal obtained a grounder to escape the inning but LIU led 4-0.
The Bison counterattacked for a run in the next frame. Smith led off with her special maneuver: a double. Popella and Jones made outs but MaKenzie Hilling sneaked another double down the left field line to score Smith. The inning ended with an Annabella Hawking strikeout.
LIU added another run in the fifth. A leadoff single started the proceedings. The runner advanced to second on a grounder and scored on another single for the 5-1 lead.
As per typical fortitude, Bucknell did not go down quietly. The Bison loaded the bases in the seventh inning. With one out, Nicole Lioumis walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Shea Malone fouled out. Noelle Gardon and Horn both walked. Smith loomed behind Speicher but the sophomore center fielder's grounder ended the contest.
Central Michigan Recap
Madison Roukey started in the circle for the Bison. The Chippewas almost scored first. They placed runners on the corners with two outs and then the first base runner advanced to second. Roukey stayed calm and ended the inning with a swinging strikeout.
Bucknell's offense boomed out to a 5-0 lead. Horn walked, Speicher singled to left field, and Smith walked to load the bases. Popella scored a run via a sacrifice fly. Hilling singled through the right side to score another run. Jones reached on a throwing error by the third baseman as Smith darted across the plate. Malone dropped down a bunt which scored the fourth and fifth runs as Bucknell went aggressive on the base paths. Bella Radican struck out but the Bison had the 5-0 lead.
CMU placed two runners on the bases in the second inning. A leadoff walk and a single with advancement on the throw put runners on second and third. Roukey again stayed cool. It was not Knapp Time for CMU as their Knapp struck out looking, a sacrifice fly did score one run, and a line out kept the damage at one run.
The Orange & Blue Crew plated three runs in response. Horn laid down a beautiful bunt single. Speicher singled down the left field line. Smith strolled to the plate and unleashed a magnificent three-run home run. CMU inserted a new pitcher who ended the inning in a 1-2-3 fashion and would only allow one further hit for the Bison.
CMU broke through for a run in the fourth inning. A double and single placed runners at the corners. The first base runner left early and was called out. Another double scored the second run. Sarah Zimmerman entered in relief with two outs and obtained a swinging strikeout.
Zimmerman pitched the next two innings and acquitted herself well except for yielding a solo home run. The rookie pitcher tossed two strikeouts and earned the win as Roukey missed the necessary innings by one out. It is Zimmerman's first collegiate wins and undoubtedly the first of many for the young pitcher.
The Bison's sole hit over the final five innings occurred in the sixth inning when Marissa Rapino pinch hit for Radican and smashed a double into right center field. Lioumis also pinch hit and reached on an error. The Bison appeared ready to add more runs but Juliette Basso and Smith struck out.
Jones entered the circle in the seventh inning to finish the game. The Chippewas showing great heart did not yield quietly. The first four batters hit singles and reached on a Gardon error to score a run. A strikeout was the first out and a grounder scoring the second run was out number two. A walk reloaded the bases. Jones knuckled down and obtained a fly ball to sure-handed Speicher to end the game.
Up Next
The Bison play two more games tomorrow against Siena at 12:30 p.m. and Manhattan at 5:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Zimmerman, Sarah (1-2)
L: Lehto (0-8)
Batting:
2B: Hollo 1 ; Springer 1
HR: Hollo 1
RBI: Tolmie, K. 1 ; Hollo 1 ; Lotus 1 ; Springer 2
SF: Springer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Coberley 1 ; Sleeman 1 ; Tolmie, K. 1 ; Hollo 2
Batting:
2B: Rapino, Marissa 1
HR: Smith, Zoie 1
RBI: Smith, Zoie 3 ; Popella, Brooke 1 ; Hilling, MaKenzie 1 ; Jones, Savannah 1 ; Malone, Shea 1
SH: Malone, Shea 1
SF: Popella, Brooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Horn, Elena 2 ; Speicher, Haley 2 ; Smith, Zoie 2 ; Hilling, MaKenzie 1 ; Jones, Savannah 1
CS: Aguilar, Ava 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
3
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballC/1B
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP/OF
/ Softball
C/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC/Util
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
LHP/OF
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