Softball Routs Radford 9-1 in Five Innings

Friday, February 28

Salem, Va.

10 a.m.

Bucknell University

4-5

Radford

6-10

BUCKNELL

Radford

Madison Roukey, Bella Radican, MaKenzie Hilling

2/28/2025 8:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SALEM, Va.- Bucknell Softball (4-6) opened the first day of the Hokie Invite with a 9-1 (5) rout of Radford but fell 6-1 to Sun Belt powerhouse James Madison in the nightcap.

Bucknell scored seven runs in the first inning against Radford and Madison Roukey threw her third straight complete game as the Highlanders were topped. Brooke Popella hit her first collegiate home run but the Dukes used three scoring innings to defeat the Bison.

Radford Recap

The Bison wasted zero time in pounding the Highlanders. Haley Speicher singled up the middle and sacrificed to second by Skye Perez. Shea Malone walked and Makenzie Hilling drew first blood with a RBI double. Popella popped up but Savannah Jones walked to load the bases. Bella Radican worked a second walk scoring a second run and triggering a pitching change. The decision mattered not. Marissa Rapino rapped a two-run single and Reagan Powell introduced herself with a three-run blast over the center field wall for the 7-0 lead.

Roukey started in the circle and pitched a tightrope game yielding eight hits but only one run. Radford struck for a single and double in the opening frame but Roukey obtained two straight outs.

Radford stranded two more runners in the second frame and loaded the bases with one out in the third inning. Roukey, a senior, displayed a veteran flair by escaping the jam with a lineout and strikeout.

Bucknell added an insurance run in the fourth inning. Speicher walked and Malone was pegged by a pitch. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Hilling put the ball in play scoring Speicher on a RBI grounder.

The Bison added another run in the next inning. Jones reached on an error and Rapino singled. Powell added to her impressive day with a massive double. The Orange & Blue had a 9-0 lead and were looking to invoke the run-rule.

A Radford home run ended the shutout but Roukey rallied to gain two more outs and end the game. It was a sweet victory for the Bison who lost the two previous years to Radford.

James Madison Recap

Savannah Jones started in the circle for Bucknell.

JMU scored first in the second inning when a Perez error placed the leadoff hitter on first. A sacrifice bunt placed the runner on third and a RBI grounder tallied the run.

The Dukes added two more runs in the fourth frame. Two singles started the action and a sacrifice bunt placed them at second and third. Jones obtained the second out but the next batter laced a single down the third base line scoring both runners.

Mea Consentino entered the circle in the fifth inning and hurled two scoreless innings.

Brooke Popella led off the fifth inning with a massive moon shot collecting her first collegiate home run.

Sarah Zimmerman pitched the final inning and JMU tallied three insurance runs. A solo home run commenced the action. A double and a single scored the next run. A stolen base and a two-out single scored the final run.

Bucknell went down in order in the seventh inning ending the game.

Up Next

The Bison play two more games tomorrow against Robert Morris (10 a.m.) and a rematch with Radford (12:30 p.m.).