Softball Falls Twice on the Second Day of the Party at Palmer Invitational

Saturday, February 28

Charlottesville, Va.

11 a.m.

Bucknell University

1-11

Michigan

14-4

Bucknell

Michigan

Photo by: Elayna Felder

Softball Falls Twice on the Second Day of the Party at Palmer Invitational

2/28/2026 4:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- Bucknell (1-12) dropped two games on the second day of the Party at Palmer Park Invitational on Saturday. The Orange & Blue fell 8-0 (6) to Michigan (14-4) and 17-2 (5) to Villanova (2-16).

Michigan Recap

The Bison kept it close for three innings before the Big 10 powerhouse pulled away for the run-rule victory.

Avery Powers started for the Bison and gained two quick outs. Lauren Putz doubled and Erin Hoehn singled in her teammate.

The Maize & Blue scored another run in the third inning by taking advantage of a Bison miscue. Putz walked and stole second. Hailey McCutchan dropped Hoehn's foul ball. Given new life, the Wolverine star singled home Putz.

Michigan tallied three runs in the fifth inning. Janella Ilacqua singled and was sacrificed to second. Indiana Langford singled and Jenissa Conway tripled to score both. Payton Hale entered the circle and yielded an RBI double to Lauren Putz.

The Wolverines ended the game in the sixth inning. Reganne Bennett walked and Madi Ramey pinch ran for her. She advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ilacqua singled to left and swiped second base. Lexi Dellamonica walked to load the bases. Langford followed with another walk to score the first run. Nina Barrouk entered the circle but the fire continued to burn. Conway doubled in two teammates to end the game at 8-0 Michigan.

Villanova Recap

The Wildcats scored early and often in their 17-2 rout of the Bison. Meadow Gambacurta smashed her first collegiate home run.

Sarah Zimmerman started in the circle and once again the opposition's first runs came with two outs in the first inning. A two-out walk jumpstarted the Nova offense. Maranda Runco hit an RBI double and Lilly St. Jean singled her home.

The game essentially ended in the next inning when Villanova tallied eight runs. Ava Mahnken led off with a walk, Madison Ostrowski reached on a Brooke Popella error. Maddie Burrows doubled home both runners. Nina Barrouk entered the circle and induced a grounder but then yielded a two-run bomb to Lexi Kobryn. Runco walked and St. Jean doubled. A hit by pitch loaded the bases. An infield single by Jacquelyn Cox scored Runco. Mahnken struck out swinging but an escape proved a false hope as Ostrowski doubled home two runners and Popella's second error of the inning allowed Cox to dart home. Mea Consentino made her season debut and found the much-needed third out.

Bucknell scored twice in response. Gambacurta deposited a ball over the left field wall for her first career home run. Shea Malone singled and advanced to third on Tori Kirkpatrick's grounder. Zimmerman laid down a crafty punt and Malone scored.

Villanova replied in the next frame with a Katherine Reed solo home run.

Nova added five runs in the fourth inning. Ostrowski walked with one out and two singles by Burrows and Reed loaded the bases. Hale entered the circle but the Wildcats smelled blood and poured it on. Kobryn singled through the left side, scoring two runs. Runco walked to reload the bases. Carly Zych singled another run. Morra's two-run double gave Villanova a 16-1 advantage.

The scoring ended in the fifth inning with a final Wildcat tally. Again, the damage occurred with two outs and was set up by a walk. Grace Reed worked the free pass in four pitches. Margaret King singled and Kendall Spivey walked. Zimmerman re-entered the circle but yielded the RBI walk. A St. Jean grounder ended the inning.

Angelina Seropian singled in the Bison's final at-bats but three straight out followed her.

Up Next

Bucknell finishes the weekend tomorrow against No. 18 Virginia.