Softball Drops Two Heartbreakers to Start 2026

Friday, February 6

Commerce, Texas

12:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. CT

Bucknell University

0-1

Texas Southern

1-1

Bucknell

Texas Southern

Photo by: Elayna Felder

2/6/2026 8:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

COMMERCE, Texas.- Bucknell (0-2) opened the 2026 campaign with two heartbreaking final play losses on the first day of the East Texas A&M Leadoff. The Bison lost a 5-1 lead in the 7-6 defeat to Texas Southern (1-1) and their late rally fell short in a 11-9 loss to East Texas A&M. The Orange & Blue displayed offensive fireworks but left 20 runners on base in two games.

Texas Southern Recap

Bucknell led 5-1 through 4 ½ innings before Texas Southern rallied for a 7-6 victory, spoiling head coach Angela Stackhouse's debut. The Bison twice left the bases loaded as part of their 11 stranded runners, allowing TSU to avoid the knockout blow.

Molly Lawson went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Rookie Meadow Gambacurta enjoyed a sensational collegiate debut, batting 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Another newcomer Avery Powers received the start in the circle and threw five innings yielding four runs with six strikeouts.

The Bison scored first in the second inning. Molly Lawson hit the first of her two doubles. Nicole Lioumis sacrificed Lawson to third. Angela Seropian golfed a single into shallow center field to score Lawson.

The Tigers immediately tied the game in their second frame. Jade McQueen led off with a solo home run.

Bucknell countered with three runs in its next at-bats. Three straight singles by Haley Speicher, Shea Malone, and Brooke Popella loaded the bases. Gambacurta singled through the left side of the infield scoring Speicher. Lawson plated a double that missed grand slam status by several feet. Malone and Popella darted home to score.

Texas Southern decided on a pitching and the move doused the Bison flame. Lioumis struck out swinging. Seropian grounded out to the pitcher. Marissa Rapino worked a walk but Barbara Jo Coppola struck out looking to leave the bases loaded.

The Bison added another run in the fourth inning. Malone singled for the second time and advanced to second on Popella's grounder. Gambacurta doubled down the left field side to score Malone. Addison "Sonny" Taft made her collegiate debut by pinch running for Gambacurta.

The Tigers finally broke through on Powers in the fifth inning. Marisa Perla hit a solo home run. KateLynn Cooper singled to left center and Lanay Carr hit a monstrous double over Speicher's head. Cooper scored easily. A fly ball was the second out. Jade McQueen struck again with an RBI single. Another single followed but Powers rallied to prevent further damage.

Nina Barrouk entered the circle in the sixth inning for Bucknell, and despite yielding a two-out double, prevented a tied game.

The Orange & Blue found an insurance run in the seventh inning. Gambacurta posted her third hit; a single to center field. Reagan Powell pinch ran for the rookie. Lawson fouled out. Skye Perez, pinch hitting for Lioumis, singled up the middle. The native Texas, like Antaeus, clearly drew strength from her home soil. Seropian doubled into left center, scoring Powell. Sophomore Rosanna Merturi made her Bison debut, pinch running for the Bucknell catcher. Rapino walked to load the bases.

Coppola put the ball in play but the TSU third baseman threw home to nab Perez for the fielder's choice. Texas Southern again went to the pitching change well and found water. Miranda Pena induced a fielder's choice from Haley Speicher to end the inning.

Barrouk started the final fateful frame by nabbing a scorching line drive. Karisma Garcia followed with a double and McQueen laced a triple down the right field line, drawing the Tigers within a claw's length. Kiersten Salinas singled up the middle, tying the game at 6-6. Aleena Carrizales walked. Destiny Menchaca lifted a routine fly ball to right field. Rapino camped under the sphere but inexplicably mishandled it. All three runners were safe. Bucknell drew the infield in, looking for a grounder. The grounder arrived but Popella mishandled it and the Tigers celebrated their 7-6 comeback win.

East Texas A&M Recap

The Bison dropped a zany, high-scoring affair that conducted itself under the warm Texas evening. The Lions committed five errors and Bucknell nearly took advantage of the miscues. A double play at the plate ended the game in East Texas A&M's favor. Coppola bounced back from her 0-for-5 affair in game one to switch 3-for-3. Tori Kirkpatrick received the start at catcher and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Sarah Zimmerman earned the ball and immediately ran into trouble. The junior walked three Lions to load the bases. A sharp single to right field plated two runs.

The Bison grabbed the 5-2 lead in the third inning in one of the strangest frames in Bucknell softball history. After a Hailey McCutchan grounder started the inning, Perez doubled and Speicher singled to the shortstop. With the routine plays saying the lines, the zaniness began. Speicher stole second and the catcher's throw to third in attempt to nab Perez failed. The ball escaped and the Texan native raced home. Coppola walked, a pitch hit Malone to load the bases, and Popella walked in the first run.

East Texas A&M promptly made a pitching change but the softball gods refused to allow a derailment from their intentions. A temporary stoppage occurred with a Gambacurta strikeout. A&M's catcher attempted to pluck Popella at first base but the ball deflected around and Coppola, stationed at third, darted home. Lawson worked another walk. So did Kirkpatrick to plate another run. The Lions' catcher, figuring a third time is the charm, tried to nab Popella leaning off third base. The ball sailed into left field and Popella scored for the 5-2 lead.

The Lions immediately reclaimed the lead in their third frame. A hit by pitch and a double scored the first run. An RBI single by Emma Rodrigues followed. She stole second and advanced to third when Kirkpatrick's throw flew into center field. Lexi Gamez walked and Rodrigues, as part of a double steal with Gamez, stole home.
Emmie Miehe drove in Gamez with a sharp single to take the 6-5 lead.

East Texas A&M added four more runs in the next inning. A single, a walk, and a wild pitch placed runners at second and third. Zimmerman induced a grounder back to herself and threw home to nab the runner. A rundown ensured and Bucknell executed the concept perfectly. The Lions challenged for obstruction and the umpires consulted replay. Controversially, they overturned the play on the field and declared obstruction. Instead of two outs and no runs, East Texas A&M remained at one out and scored. Rodrigues seized the chance and laced a two-run triple to right field. A Gamez sacrifice fly followed.

Bucknell got a run back the next half inning. Gambacurta worked a walk and Zimmerman pinch ran for her. She advanced to second on a grounder and Kirkpatrick delivered an RBI single.

The Bison scored another run in the sixth inning thanks to more A&M assistance. Coppola doubled and scored when the Lions' first baseman couldn't handle a throw.

Payton Hale entered the circle for Bucknell in the sixth inning. She yielded two singles and the Lions obtained two walks for an all-important insurance run.

The Orange & Blue, as its style, refused to venture quietly into the deepening night. Kirkpatrick singled and Lioumis pinch ran for the catcher. Rapino pinch hit for McCutchan and slammed a double, scoring Lioumis. Perez reached on a throwing error and Rapino advanced to third. The first out occurred when Perez broke for second but was easily gunned down. Speicher regained the momentum with an RBI single. The tying run was at the plate. Coppola singled up the middle and the Bison dugout roared as Speicher sped to third base. Malone hit a short fly ball and Speicher was sent. The throw arrived to a catcher blocking the play and the smart senior maneuvered around the tag and appeared to sneak her hand past the obstacle. The umpire disagreed. Bucknell challenged but the play was not overturned and neither was obstruction called. The Lions prevailed 11-9.

Up Next

Bucknell faces Stephen F. Austin and South Dakota State tomorrow.