Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Adam Evanko
Softball Takes Home Major Award; Picked Fourth in Patriot League Preseason Poll
1/31/2025 2:44:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell softball team has witnessed a continuous improvement since the 2022 season and the program unlocked another step with Haley Speicher receiving Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and two pitchers Savannah Jones and Madison Roukey landing on the Preseason All-League Team. The Bison were picked fourth and are projected to return to the Patriot League Tournament for the third straight season. Bucknell beat Lehigh 1-0 in the opening round of the PLT last season for the first win since 2019.
In just two seasons, Speicher has become the league's premier defensive outfielder routinely tracking down surefire base hits and converting them into outs. The junior flyhawk has rovered between left and center field but regardless of her station continued to keep highlight worthy catches. She snagged a deadeye double in last year's Patriot League Tournament game versus Lehigh.Â
Speicher doesn't sacrifice hitting for fielding. As the Bison's leadoff hitter, she slapped her way to a .283 batting average (second on the team) and stole five bases. Career-wise, she has hit .276 with 63 hits, 41 runs, 13 stolen bases, and four triples. Her blazing speed will keystone the Orange & Blue offense.Â
Savannah Jones has grown into one of the finest two-way players on the East Coast. Splitting time between the circle and the vast expense of the outfield, she made the First Team All-Patriot League Team with a .269 batting average and a 3.08 earned run average. Her glove is accomplished with a .986 fielding percentage despite the demands placed upon pitchers.Â
The preseason team was an upperclassmen affair with 11 out of the 12 selections being juniors or seniors - a testament to the league's depth as every team was hit hard by graduation. Boston paced the loop with three honors while Army, Bucknell, Colgate, and Lehigh tied second with two. Holy Cross received one laurel.
Ashton White (Army) won Preseason Player of the Year after a season where she batted .380 with 12 doubles and 38 RBIs. Boston's ace Kasey Ricard overwhelmingly won Preseason Pitcher of the Year for her 2024 season which featured circuit leading numbers of a 28-4 record, a 1.23 ERA and 265 strikeouts.
2025 Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll
1. Boston University (10 first-place votes)- 70
2. Lehigh (4)- 64
3. Army West Point- 47
4. Bucknell- 46
5. Colgate- 33
6. Holy Cross- 22
7. Lafayette- 12
2025 Patriot League Softball Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year- Ashton White, Army West Point
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year- Haley Speicher, Bucknell
Preseason Pitcher of the Year- Kasey Ricard, Boston University
2025 Patriot League Preseason All-League Team
Taylor Brown, Army West Point, Jr., INF
Ashton White, Army West Point, Jr., INF
Megan Coyle, Boston University, Jr., INF
Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Jr., INF
Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Jr., P
Savannah Jones, Bucknell, Sr., P/U
Madison Roukey, Bucknell, Sr., P
Jillian Herbst, Colgate, Sr., INF
Quinn Livesay, Colgate, Sr., P
Ali Sniegocki, Holy Cross, Jr., OF
Rory Dudley, Lehigh, Sr., INF
Peyton Sward, Lehigh, So., INF
Â
In just two seasons, Speicher has become the league's premier defensive outfielder routinely tracking down surefire base hits and converting them into outs. The junior flyhawk has rovered between left and center field but regardless of her station continued to keep highlight worthy catches. She snagged a deadeye double in last year's Patriot League Tournament game versus Lehigh.Â
Her career numbers confirmed her consistency. She holds a .979 fielding percentage only committing three errors with 134 putouts and four assists.ÂSPEICHER SNAG!
— Bucknell Softball (@Bucknell_SB) May 10, 2024
The left fielder makes a sensational snag! She dives and robs Lehigh of extra bases! Where hits go to die!
Watch: https://t.co/UwhStEcwDF@ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV | @SportsCenter | @NCAASoftball#rayBucknell | #Team46 | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/zZm4KeEwzB
Speicher doesn't sacrifice hitting for fielding. As the Bison's leadoff hitter, she slapped her way to a .283 batting average (second on the team) and stole five bases. Career-wise, she has hit .276 with 63 hits, 41 runs, 13 stolen bases, and four triples. Her blazing speed will keystone the Orange & Blue offense.Â
Savannah Jones has grown into one of the finest two-way players on the East Coast. Splitting time between the circle and the vast expense of the outfield, she made the First Team All-Patriot League Team with a .269 batting average and a 3.08 earned run average. Her glove is accomplished with a .986 fielding percentage despite the demands placed upon pitchers.Â
Madison Roukey has been the staff ace and bad news for the opposition the past two seasons. Her 2024 season was a banner year: Roukey set career bests in complete games (12), ERA (2.46), games started (24), innings (142), strikeouts (92), and wins (11). Among Patriot League hurlers, she finished in third in ERA and fifth in complete games, games started, innings, and wins. Roukey hurled the 1-0 shutout over Lehigh in the PL Tournament. She ranks tied for ninth in Bucknell history for shutouts (6).Jones ties the game at 1-1 with an RBI single.
— Bucknell Softball (@Bucknell_SB) May 10, 2024
Watch: https://t.co/UwhStEcwDF@ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV#rayBucknell | #Team46 pic.twitter.com/5jUv93zjZY
The Bison were picked fourth behind perennial champion Boston, league power Lehigh, and constant tournament presence Army. Colgate, who finished fifth the last two seasons, was selected to three-peat the position, Holy Cross, and Lafayette rounded out the seven-team poll.ÂBISON WIN! BISON WIN!
— Bucknell Softball (@Bucknell_SB) May 9, 2024
OUR FIRST TOURNAMENT WIN SINCE 2019!
WE UPSET LEHIGH 1-0!
MADDIE THE BADDIE WITH THE SHUTOUT!
We play Boston tomorrow at 11 a.m.!
Watch: https://t.co/UwhStEd4td@ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV
#rayBucknell | #Team46 pic.twitter.com/2WKSOdwJ5D
The preseason team was an upperclassmen affair with 11 out of the 12 selections being juniors or seniors - a testament to the league's depth as every team was hit hard by graduation. Boston paced the loop with three honors while Army, Bucknell, Colgate, and Lehigh tied second with two. Holy Cross received one laurel.
Ashton White (Army) won Preseason Player of the Year after a season where she batted .380 with 12 doubles and 38 RBIs. Boston's ace Kasey Ricard overwhelmingly won Preseason Pitcher of the Year for her 2024 season which featured circuit leading numbers of a 28-4 record, a 1.23 ERA and 265 strikeouts.
2025 Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll
1. Boston University (10 first-place votes)- 70
2. Lehigh (4)- 64
3. Army West Point- 47
4. Bucknell- 46
5. Colgate- 33
6. Holy Cross- 22
7. Lafayette- 12
2025 Patriot League Softball Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year- Ashton White, Army West Point
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year- Haley Speicher, Bucknell
Preseason Pitcher of the Year- Kasey Ricard, Boston University
2025 Patriot League Preseason All-League Team
Taylor Brown, Army West Point, Jr., INF
Ashton White, Army West Point, Jr., INF
Megan Coyle, Boston University, Jr., INF
Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Jr., INF
Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Jr., P
Savannah Jones, Bucknell, Sr., P/U
Madison Roukey, Bucknell, Sr., P
Jillian Herbst, Colgate, Sr., INF
Quinn Livesay, Colgate, Sr., P
Ali Sniegocki, Holy Cross, Jr., OF
Rory Dudley, Lehigh, Sr., INF
Peyton Sward, Lehigh, So., INF
Â
Players Mentioned
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