Thursday, May 9
Boston, Mass.
12:30 p.m.
Bucknell University
19-25
1
vs
0
Lehigh
30-19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Bucknell
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
0
Lehigh
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
Softball Upsets Lehigh 1-0 in Opening Round of Patriot League Tournament on Roukey's Scoreless Outing
5/9/2024 3:16:00 PM | Softball
BRIGHTON, Mass. -- The Bucknell Bison softball team (19-25) defeated the second-seeded Lehigh Mountain Hawks (30-19) in a 1-0 thriller to win a first-round game in the Patriot League Tournament. It is Bucknell's first tourney win since 2019 and the first victory in the opening round since 2018.
Madison Roukey, after winning Second Team All-Patriot League honors this week, dominated the Mountain Hawks in a scoreless gem. The pitcher did not allow a single Mountain Hawk to reach third base. Bucknell's lone run arrived in the first inning on a MaKenzie Hilling RBI double.
Caffrey's Call
"I'm just proud of the performance today. We've been talking about just being better than who we play. We don't have to be perfect or do too much. We just have to be a little better and get the win and it was so fun to see us compete and find a way.
There are not enough great things to say about Madison's performance. She made tremendous adjustments and just kept them off balance the entire day. I think scoring the first inning set the tone for the entire game.
This win means a lot for our program and I am just happy this team gets to keep showing up and playing together. We will celebrate this win and get ready to work tomorrow for another one."
Recap
Bucknell jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Haley Speicher hit a soft single out of the second baseman's reach, and then Second Team All-Patriot League first baseman Hilling slammed a double over the right fielder's head. The ball bounced off the fence, allowing Speicher to dart home for the opening salvo.
Neither team advanced much of a threat after the opening inning as flashy defense and stringy pitching prevented many baserunners. Bucknell opened several frames with leadoff singles but did not capitalize on the advantages.
Bella Radican prevented a Lehigh baserunner in the fourth inning with a spectacular diving catch on a pop fly behind the bag.
Lehigh threatened in the fifth inning by placing two runners on via singles. The first hit just floated over shortstop Brooke Popella's glove and the second one skipped up the middle. Roukey remained calm and induced the final out to Noelle Gardon's waiting glove at third base.
Bucknell couldn't add any insurance runs, but it did not matter as Roukey continued to cruise. Lehigh came to the plate in the seventh inning and weakly batted three balls. The final contact went to Radican who calmly collected the sphere and threw it to Hilling for the final out. A celebration started as the Bison mobbed Roukey.
Notes
Bucknell entered the game losing three straight tournament games to Lehigh and three straight tournament games overall. The Bison improved to 8-14 all-time against the Mountain Hawks in the PL Tournament.
Up Next
The Bison play the first-seeded and host Boston Univesity Terriers tomorrow at noon in the winner's game. The last time Bucknell played in the winner's game was in 2018 when Boston beat the Orange & Blue 6-4.
The tournament will shift back to the Boston University Softball Field tomorrow after Boston College hosted Thursday's contests.
Madison Roukey, after winning Second Team All-Patriot League honors this week, dominated the Mountain Hawks in a scoreless gem. The pitcher did not allow a single Mountain Hawk to reach third base. Bucknell's lone run arrived in the first inning on a MaKenzie Hilling RBI double.
Caffrey's Call
"I'm just proud of the performance today. We've been talking about just being better than who we play. We don't have to be perfect or do too much. We just have to be a little better and get the win and it was so fun to see us compete and find a way.
There are not enough great things to say about Madison's performance. She made tremendous adjustments and just kept them off balance the entire day. I think scoring the first inning set the tone for the entire game.
This win means a lot for our program and I am just happy this team gets to keep showing up and playing together. We will celebrate this win and get ready to work tomorrow for another one."
Recap
Bucknell jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Haley Speicher hit a soft single out of the second baseman's reach, and then Second Team All-Patriot League first baseman Hilling slammed a double over the right fielder's head. The ball bounced off the fence, allowing Speicher to dart home for the opening salvo.
Neither team advanced much of a threat after the opening inning as flashy defense and stringy pitching prevented many baserunners. Bucknell opened several frames with leadoff singles but did not capitalize on the advantages.
Bella Radican prevented a Lehigh baserunner in the fourth inning with a spectacular diving catch on a pop fly behind the bag.
Lehigh threatened in the fifth inning by placing two runners on via singles. The first hit just floated over shortstop Brooke Popella's glove and the second one skipped up the middle. Roukey remained calm and induced the final out to Noelle Gardon's waiting glove at third base.
Bucknell couldn't add any insurance runs, but it did not matter as Roukey continued to cruise. Lehigh came to the plate in the seventh inning and weakly batted three balls. The final contact went to Radican who calmly collected the sphere and threw it to Hilling for the final out. A celebration started as the Bison mobbed Roukey.
Notes
Bucknell entered the game losing three straight tournament games to Lehigh and three straight tournament games overall. The Bison improved to 8-14 all-time against the Mountain Hawks in the PL Tournament.
Up Next
The Bison play the first-seeded and host Boston Univesity Terriers tomorrow at noon in the winner's game. The last time Bucknell played in the winner's game was in 2018 when Boston beat the Orange & Blue 6-4.
The tournament will shift back to the Boston University Softball Field tomorrow after Boston College hosted Thursday's contests.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Roukey, Madison (11-11)
L: Young, Katelyn (16-11)
Batting:
2B: Hilling, MaKenzie 1
RBI: Hilling, MaKenzie 1
SH: Gardon, Noelle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Speicher, Haley 1
CS: Aguilar, Ava 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballC/1B
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballOF
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