Roukey Wins Patriot League Pitcher of the Week & Popella Takes Home Bison of the Week
4/14/2025 2:01:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell softball reversed its momentum with two major victories on Sunday against the Lafayette Leopards. Sophomore shortstop Brooke Popella and senior pitcher Madison Roukey played key roles in the 2-0 and 8-2 triumphs over the Keystone State rival. The Patriot League conference office acknowledged their feats, christening Roukey with her second Pitcher of the Week award of 2025 and notching Popella as honorable mention. The Bucknell Athletic Department awarded Popella with Bison of the Week.Â
Roukey found her groove against the Leopards, throwing 13.2 innings and only allowing two runs. She hurled her eighth career shutout in the 2-0 blanking. The accomplishment moved her into eighth all-time in Bucknell history for career shutouts. She handcuffed the Leopard bats, allowing only five scattered hits. While she did not obtain a strikeout, her pitches largely resulted in easy outs for the Bison defense.
In the second game, she relieved starter Savannah Jones with no outs, two runners on, and a 5-1 Bucknell lead. Roukey yielded a single to load the bases but then went to work, inducing three straight outs with the final one occurring on a swinging strikeout. Bucknell rode the momentum from preventing a possible comeback to the 8-2 victory.Â
Roukey became the first Bison pitcher since flame-throwing strikeout artist and Bucknell's all-time wins leader Raeanne Geffert to win multiple Patriot League Pitcher of the Week awards in a season. Geffert earned four during the 2019 campaign. Roukey moved into ninth for saves (2) and tenth for career strikeouts (207).Â
"I am so thrilled to see success from the Bucknell staff this season," said Geffert. "It is amazing to see our pitching lineage continue with more great Bison."
"I'm so proud of Maddie for the way she competed on literally every single pitch this weekend," said head coach Sarah Caffrey. "This season has held so many different challenges for her and the way she has just showed up everyday to work knowing it will all pay off is truly a testament to the kind of leader, captain, and competitor that she is. This is much deserved and I can't wait to watch her and her teammates the rest of the season."
Popella smashed Lafayette's pitching to the tune of a .700 batting average. The sophomore slugger batted ten times and collected seven hits, including a double. She drove in four RBIs, including three runners in Sunday's doubleheader sweep, as part of her 5 for 6 day.Â
The shortstop developed into of Bucknell's finest hitters in 2025, leading the team in average (.320), hits (32), RBIs (21), slugging percentage (.440), and total bases (44). Popella ranks 12th in RBIs and 13th in average among Patriot League players.Â
"The weekend Brooke just had was so fun to watch," said Caffrey. "Every time she stepped to the plate you felt like she was going to do something big. The confidence she had all weekend to do damage on any pitch thrown was such a great thing to watch. Brooke works so hard and I know this weekend meant a lot to her. I'm proud of her and her teammates for their resilience this weekend. I know we are all very excited to keep this momentum going."
Bucknell remains alive for a Patriot League Tournament bid. The team sits at 2-10 in conference play but Bison fans will remember the same situation occurred in 2023 when Bucknell rattled off six straight wins to clinch the fourth and final slot. The Orange & Blue welcome Colgate for a three-game series during Easter weekend.Â
Roukey found her groove against the Leopards, throwing 13.2 innings and only allowing two runs. She hurled her eighth career shutout in the 2-0 blanking. The accomplishment moved her into eighth all-time in Bucknell history for career shutouts. She handcuffed the Leopard bats, allowing only five scattered hits. While she did not obtain a strikeout, her pitches largely resulted in easy outs for the Bison defense.
In the second game, she relieved starter Savannah Jones with no outs, two runners on, and a 5-1 Bucknell lead. Roukey yielded a single to load the bases but then went to work, inducing three straight outs with the final one occurring on a swinging strikeout. Bucknell rode the momentum from preventing a possible comeback to the 8-2 victory.Â
Roukey became the first Bison pitcher since flame-throwing strikeout artist and Bucknell's all-time wins leader Raeanne Geffert to win multiple Patriot League Pitcher of the Week awards in a season. Geffert earned four during the 2019 campaign. Roukey moved into ninth for saves (2) and tenth for career strikeouts (207).Â
"I am so thrilled to see success from the Bucknell staff this season," said Geffert. "It is amazing to see our pitching lineage continue with more great Bison."
"I'm so proud of Maddie for the way she competed on literally every single pitch this weekend," said head coach Sarah Caffrey. "This season has held so many different challenges for her and the way she has just showed up everyday to work knowing it will all pay off is truly a testament to the kind of leader, captain, and competitor that she is. This is much deserved and I can't wait to watch her and her teammates the rest of the season."
Popella smashed Lafayette's pitching to the tune of a .700 batting average. The sophomore slugger batted ten times and collected seven hits, including a double. She drove in four RBIs, including three runners in Sunday's doubleheader sweep, as part of her 5 for 6 day.Â
The shortstop developed into of Bucknell's finest hitters in 2025, leading the team in average (.320), hits (32), RBIs (21), slugging percentage (.440), and total bases (44). Popella ranks 12th in RBIs and 13th in average among Patriot League players.Â
"The weekend Brooke just had was so fun to watch," said Caffrey. "Every time she stepped to the plate you felt like she was going to do something big. The confidence she had all weekend to do damage on any pitch thrown was such a great thing to watch. Brooke works so hard and I know this weekend meant a lot to her. I'm proud of her and her teammates for their resilience this weekend. I know we are all very excited to keep this momentum going."
Bucknell remains alive for a Patriot League Tournament bid. The team sits at 2-10 in conference play but Bison fans will remember the same situation occurred in 2023 when Bucknell rattled off six straight wins to clinch the fourth and final slot. The Orange & Blue welcome Colgate for a three-game series during Easter weekend.Â
Players Mentioned
In The Herd: Saint Francis Game Preview And Nick Hoying Feature
Thursday, September 25
In The Herd: First Practice Review And Tuana Coskun Feature
Wednesday, September 24
In The Herd: First Practice Review And Ruot Bijiek Feature
Tuesday, September 23
(Coaches Camera) Salem Men's Water Polo Vs. Gannon (9/21/25)
Monday, September 22