Softball Starts Conference Play with Split Doubleheader Against Holy Cross

Saturday, March 21

Lewisburg, Pa.

Noon

Bucknell University

3-20, 1-0

Holy Cross

5-12, 0-1

Holy Cross

Bucknell

Photo by: Amber Searls

Softball Starts Conference Play with Split Doubleheader Against Holy Cross

3/21/2026 6:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell Softball (3-21, 1-1 Patriot League) opened conference play and the home schedule by splitting a doubleheader against Holy Cross (5-13, 1-1 Patriot League). The Bison won the first game 2-1 but dropped the second contest 4-1. Avery Powers won her third game of the season and Nina Barrouk returned from injury to record her first collegiate save. Holy Cross' win in game two broke Bucknell's streak of nine straight conference wins dating back to last season and shattered the Orange & Blue's 11 straight wins over the Crusaders.

Game One Recap

Powers threw five strong innings with eight strikeouts and Barrouk posted a two-inning save to preserve the victory. The Bison scored two runs in the fifth inning to overcome a 1-0 Holy Cross lead.

Neither team advanced a serious threat in the first three innings.

Holy Cross scored its sole run in the fourth inning when Ali Sniegocki, one of the conference's best power hitters, smacked a solo home run over Becker's left field wall. Anna Brait followed with a double. Powers rallied and induced three straight outs, including two swinging strikeouts.

Bucknell left the bases loaded in its fourth inning. Barbara Jo Coppola walked and Brooke Popella doubled with one out. After Meadow Gambacurta struck out, Shea Malone worked a free pass to fill the bases. Molly Lawson popped up to leave them stranded.

The Bison struck for two runs in the fifth inning. The action started with two outs. Haley Speicher walked and Sarah Zimmerman golfed a double, allowing the speedy senior to score. Coppola followed with an RBI single to plate Zimmerman and the Bison led 2-1.

Barrouk entered in the sixth inning and ran into early trouble with a walk and a single. The freshman flamethrower recovered and earned three straight outs.

Holy Cross had one batter reach on a hit by pitch in its final at-bats but Barrouk prevented further trouble and Bucknell celebrated its third win.

Game Two Recap

Bucknell's two streaks ended in a 4-1 defeat where the Bison stranded 12 runners. Sarah Zimmerman nearly pitched a complete game and held the Crusaders to two runs before a fateful seventh inning.

Zimmerman quickly set down two Crusaders before a recurring theme of a two-out walk reared its head. Sniegocki walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Brait singled up the middle just under Zimmerman's reacting glove and Sniegocki darted home.

Modern baseball has developed into a three outcome sport of home runs, walks, and strikeouts. The Bison's first inning consisted two of three of those actions. Zimmerman walked and stole second. Speicher struck out swinging. Coppola and Popella drew back-to-back walks and loaded the bases. Gambacurta and Shea Malone went down swinging and the Crusaders escaped the ambush.

Jenna Alesandrelli led off the fourth inning with a massive home run.

Gambacurta walked and Malone singled to start Bucknell's fourth inning but were left there after three straight outs.

Bucknell again stranded three runners in the fifth inning. Zimmerman grounded out, Speicher hit an infield inning, and Coppola walked. Popella hit a slicing foul ball which the Holy Cross right fielder Silje Emery nabbed with an impressive diving grab. Gambacurta walked again. Holy Cross inserted game one pitcher Sophia Roncone. She nailed Malone with a hit by pitch, scoring a run, and cutting the deficit to 2-1. Hailey McCutchan lifted a sky-high fly ball gathered by Emery for the final out.

Holy Cross added two insurance runs in the final inning. Emma Pietrzak started the action with a solo home run. Kendall Grady singled and advanced to second on a grounder. Kate Trudgen singled home Grady and Holy Cross led 4-1. Barrouk entered the circle and induced the final out but the damage was done.

Popella led off the seventh with a walk but three straight outs ended the game.

Up Next

The series concludes tomorrow with a single game at noon.