Softball Splits Doubleheader with Furman

Wednesday, March 11

Greenville, S.C.

3 p.m.

Bucknell University

1-20

Furman

4-20

Bucknell

Furman

Photo by: Aiden Pelphrey

3/11/2026 8:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GREENVILLE, S.C.- Bucknell (2-20) returned to the win column for the first time since the opening weekend by splitting a doubleheader with Furman (4-21) on Wednesday. The Paladins won the first game 5-4 before the Bison rebounded to win game two 7-3 and conclude the spring break trip on a triumphant note.

Game One Recap

The Bison and Paladins traded blows back-and-forth but Furman capitalized on its seventh inning opportunity to seal away a 5-4 win.

Sarah Zimmerman started in the circle for the Bison and threw a scoreless first inning before running into trouble in the second frame. Sylvia Burroughs singled through the right side and Kate Lovett pinch ran for her. Zimmerman plunked Kristyn Embler with a pitch. Both runners advanced on a grounder. Rachel Hawkins delivered a single down the right field line, scoring Lovett, and Barbara Jo Coppola's throw sailed into Bucknell's dugout allowing Embler to score.

Bucknell seized the lead in the fourth inning. With one out, Coppola singled. Meadow Gambacurta hit a scorcher to the third baseman that was too fast for her to handle. Shea Malone singled to load the bases. Molly Lawson came through an RBI single. Angelina Seropian followed up with another RBI single that scored Gambacurta. The left fielder mismanaged the ball, allowing Malone to score for the 3-2 Bucknell lead.

Furman immediately retook the lead in their fourth frame. Katie Peeler singled, advanced to second on Hawkins' grounder, and stole third. Christina McCoy doubled to right center, scoring Peeler and tying the game. A pop-up followed for the second out. Eden Frederick singled through the left side for runners on the corners. Kate Stoltzfus singled up the middle under Popella's glove for the 4-3 lead.

The Bison tied it up in the fifth inning. Zimmerman helped her cause with a leadoff double. Two straight outs followed. Gambacurta walked on a full count. Malone hit a dying quail down the left field line that Furman's Frederick dove for it but the ball escaped her glove and Zimmerman zoomed home.

Bucknell had a prime chance for the lead in the seventh inning but three defensive plays ruined the chance. Zimmerman led off with a single. Coppola laid down a sacrifice bunt and a wild throw allowed her to reach safety and moved Zimmerman to third. Coppola promptly stole second. Then, the Paladins turned into the 1982 Cardinals. The right fielder snagged Popella's dying fly off the ground. Gambacurta lasered a line drive that the first baseman reached out and nabbed. Malone hit a screamer into left field that was lassoed.

Furman did not squander its walkoff opportunity. Burroughs singled to start operations. Embler reached on a fielder's choice when Popella's throw to second went errant. Seropian allowed a passed ball and both runners advanced. A Peeler walk loaded the bases. Hawkins lifted a deep fly ball to center field. Speicher tracked it down but had no chance of throwing out Burroughs and Furman won 5-4.

Game Two Recap

Avery Powers went the distance and Bucknell scored six runs in the third inning for the 7-3 win that shattered its 16-game losing streak. The Bison took advantage of Furman's error-prone gloves.

Bucknell started strong with Speicher drawing a four pitch walk and Zimmerman doubling to left center to score the speedy leadoff hitter.

Supported by four Furman errors, Bucknell enjoyed a six-run outburst in the third inning. Speicher again started the action with a walk. Zimmerman's liner was caught but served as a forecast of the coming storm. Speicher stole second. Coppola reached on a fielding error. Popella singled to left field and Speicher darted home. Meadow Gambacurta singled through the left side, scoring Coppola. The left fielder airmailed the throw and Popella ran home. Malone lifted a fly ball that the center fielder couldn't corral and landed on second with Gambacurta at third. Addison "Sonny" Taft stroked a two-run single. Hailey McCutchan hit a double over the left fielder's head and Reagan Powell reached on another error, loading the ball. Speicher hit an infield single to push home Taft. Furman changed pitchers and found the final two outs but the damage was done.

Powers' no-hitter chance disappeared in the fourth inning. Two singles shattered her cruise control and Burroughs launched a three-run homer to break the Bison's aura.

The Bison rallied and prevented the Paladins from scoring further runs. Powers ended the game with a strikeout and the team exhaled in riotous celebration.

Up Next

Bucknell heads to Cornell on March 18 for a doubleheader.