Softball Falls in Epic Games versus Kent State and Canisius

Saturday, February 21

Greensboro, N.C.

10 a.m.

Bucknell University

1-7

Kent State

8-4

Bucknell

Kent State University

Softball Falls in Epic Games versus Kent State and Canisius

2/21/2026 4:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GREENSBORO, N.C.- Bucknell (1-8) played its hearts out against Kent State (8-4) and Canisius (4-3) but the day was not golden for the Bison as the Orange & Blue dropped a 5-4 (8) extra innings thriller to the Golden Flashes and an 11-10 barnburner to the Golden Griffins on the second day of the UNCG Invitational.

Sarah Zimmerman had a career day at the plate. The junior batted 4-for-7 with her first career home run, two doubles, and six RBIs. She entered the day with four career RBIs.

The Bison grabbed late leads in both games only to see the opposition avoid the knockout blow and rally for the win as Bucknell left 22 runners on base.

Kent State Recap

Zimmerman started in the circle for the Bison and yielded a run in the first inning. She yielded a walk to the first batter - walks have been her kryptonite - and the batter stole second. A single through the left side of the infield scored the Golden Flash.

Bucknell equaled the score in the fourth inning. Brooke Popella and Marissa Rapino singled and Shea Malone walked to load the bases. A fielder's choice proved the second out. Sarah Zimmerman helped her cause with a two-out RBI single. Another fielder's choice ended the inning.

The first two Kent State batters in the fifth inning singled and tripled. Payton Hale entered the circle and yielded an RBI single but otherwise limited the damage.

The Bison came right back and tied the game again in the next frame. After a fly out, Zimmerman rapped a double. Natalie Monroe pinch hit for Haley Speicher and hit a single up the middle. Zimmerman scored on the center fielder's throwing error and Monroe advanced to second. Speicher reentered the game as a pinch runner for Monroe. A Molly Lawson fly out moved Speicher to third. Skye Perez delivered an RBI single to score Speicher and tie the game at 3-3.

Both teams put a runner on base in the seventh inning but could not score.

The international tiebreaker, in play, placed a runner on second. Shea Malone, after making the final out in the seventh inning, was designated as the runner. Nicole Lioumis pinch run for her. Tori Kiripatrick slashed a single and Reagan Powell pinch ran for her. Zimmerman delivered her second double, scoring Lioumis. Haley Speicher walked and the Bison had the bases loaded with zero out and the lead, looking poised to deliver a crushing swing. The situation proved a mirage. Molly Lawson hit into a fielder's choice, as Powell was gunned down at home. Perez lined into a double play as the second baseman picked Lawson off first.

Kent State took advantage of their escape. Caleigh Shaulis, the leadoff hitter, deposited a two-run homer over the left center wall for the 5-4 victory.

Canisius Recap

The Bison rallied from down 7-1 for the 10-8 lead only to see Canisius squeak out an 11-10 victory.

Avery Powers started in the circle and the Golden Griffins immediately jumped the rookie for three runs. A walk and hit by pitch combined with a single scored the first tally. Another hit by pitch loaded the bases. A second walk scored the second run. Another single put Canisius up 3-0.

Bucknell responded in the next frame with a run. Lawson hit her fifth double of 2026 and Angelina Seropian singled home the Tarheel native.

Canisius replied with two more runs. Rebecca Hai singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a grounder. A fielder's choice scored Hai. Back-to-back doubles plated another run.

The Griffins chased Powers from the game in the third inning. Two singles mixed with two outs. Abbey Post, pinch hitting, smashed a two-run double. Nina Barrouk entered the circle and obtained the final out.

Bucknell's comeback started with three runs in the fourth inning. Monroe walked, Lawson reached on an error, and Malone walked to load the bases. Seropian was hit by a pitch, scoring the first run. A Zimmerman fielder's choice nabbed the second tally. Haley Speicher collected another fielder's choice for the third run.

Canisius countered with a solo home run by Bailey Alatorre for an 8-4 advantage.

The Bison claimed the lead with a six-run fifth inning. A pitch hit Meadow Gambacurta and Brooke Popella singled. Lioumis struck out swinging. Addison "Sonny" Taft singled to fill the bases. Malone reached on an error, which scored two Bison. Seropian hit an infield single, scoring another run. Zimmerman strolled to the plate and cracked a three-run blast for the 10-8 lead. Spiecher and Powell walked but Gambacurta grounded out and Popella struck out.

The Golden Griffins tied the game in the next at-bats. A pop-up started and two singles and a walk loaded the bases. A second straight walk scored a run. A strikeout followed but a hit by pitch tied the game at 10-10.

Canisius regained the lead in the sixth inning. A Powell throwing error placed a runner on second. A Hai single scored her teammate and the Golden Griffs had the advantage.

Bucknell fought to the final out. Speicher grounded out, Perez reached on an error, and Gambacurta walked. Popella struck out looking on a 3-2 count when the umpire's call did not go her way. Barbara Jo Coppola pinch hit but her grounder ended the game.

Up Next

The Bison finish the UNCG Invitational tomorrow with a rematch against Canisius at 10 a.m.