Bucknell University Athletics
Saturday, April 18
Lewisburg, Pa.
Noon
Bucknell University
7-29-1, 4-6
2
vs
1
Lehigh
22-22, 3-10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| Bucknell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | X | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Softball Edges Lehigh 2-1 in Game One Victory
4/18/2026 4:40:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell Softball (7-30-1, 4-7 Patriot League) defeated Lehigh 2-1 in the series' opening game for the program's first regular season victory over the Mountain Hawks since 2021. Lehigh (23-22, 4-10 Patriot League) rebounded for the 10-2 (6) win in the second game of the doubleheader.Â
Game One Recap
Bucknell, doused with tired arms and injuries, used a pitching committee approach to defeat the Mountain Hawks in a thrilling 2-1 escapade. The Bison only collected four hits but bunched them together for maximum impact. Lehigh harvested ten hits but stranded eight runners on base, as sharp Orange & Blue defense erased multiple Mountain Hawks.
Mea Consentino started the game for Bucknell and threw four strong innings of one-run ball. The senior pitcher did not obtain a strikeout but her crafty hurling kept Lehigh off-balance.Â
Neither team scored a run in the first three innings. Lehigh twice advanced a runner to second but no further.Â
The Mountain Hawks struck for a run in the fourth inning. Lizzie Kern led off and reached on a Brooke Popella error. Megan Lodge singled and Kern advanced to third. She scored on Abby Tabaka's sacrifice fly. Zimmerman prevented additional scoring with a spectacular catch.Â
The Bison grabbed the lead in the sixth inning. Zimmerman again sparked the fire, this time with a double. She slammed a ball that narrowly missed leaving Becker Field by millimeters. The ball hit the top of the fence and bounced back. Haley Speicher slapped a triple over the right fielder's head and Zimmerman raced home.Â
The Mountain Hawks died hard. Gracie Smith flew out to Speicher. Kelly Fricker hit a loopy double that narrowly landed fair. Peyton Sward singled and Fricker raced for home. Speicher's rocket to Coppola erased the Mountain Hawk.
Lehigh bounced back with a six-inning defeat of the Bison. The Mountain Hawks scored in four of the six innings for the 10-2 victory.Â
Nina Barrouk received the start and, in two separate stints, threw five innings.Â
The scoring started immediately. Fricker led off with a double and Lovett, the goat of game one, smashed the first of her two home runs and Lehigh led 2-0.Â
An error by Skye Perez on a dropped pop-up jumpstarted the next inning. A sacrifice bunt followed. Fricker hit another double and Sward delivered a single to score the two runs.Â
Payton Hale entered the circle in relief and obtained two quick outs. Then, trouble began. Tabaka smashed a double and Hale plunked Lola Fasano. Gracie Smith doubled home her teammates. Fricker followed with a two-run homer and Lehigh led 8-0.Â
Bucknell broke up Chloe Hess' perfect game attempt in the fourth inning. Speicher singled to the shortstop and advanced to third on a single by Barbara Jo Coppola and Popella's fly out. Meadow Gambacurta delivered a two-run double that fell into the Bermuda Triangle.Â
Barrouk re-entered the game in the fourth inning and threw two scoreless frames before Lehigh tallied twice in the sixth inning. Lovett led off with her second home run of the game. Sydney Parlett doubled, advanced to third on a fly out, and then scored on a wild pitch.Â
Bucknell could not score a run to extend the game and game two went to Lehigh.Â
Up Next
The rubber match starts tomorrow at noon.Â
Â
Game One Recap
Bucknell, doused with tired arms and injuries, used a pitching committee approach to defeat the Mountain Hawks in a thrilling 2-1 escapade. The Bison only collected four hits but bunched them together for maximum impact. Lehigh harvested ten hits but stranded eight runners on base, as sharp Orange & Blue defense erased multiple Mountain Hawks.
Mea Consentino started the game for Bucknell and threw four strong innings of one-run ball. The senior pitcher did not obtain a strikeout but her crafty hurling kept Lehigh off-balance.Â
Neither team scored a run in the first three innings. Lehigh twice advanced a runner to second but no further.Â
The Mountain Hawks struck for a run in the fourth inning. Lizzie Kern led off and reached on a Brooke Popella error. Megan Lodge singled and Kern advanced to third. She scored on Abby Tabaka's sacrifice fly. Zimmerman prevented additional scoring with a spectacular catch.Â
Bucknell tied up the game in its fourth frame. A pitch hit Zimmerman. The speedy junior stole second after a bunt attempt failed to advance her. Popella redeemed herself with a double to right center - her 16th of the season - earning sole possession of third all-time in Bucknell history.ÂSLIDING CATCH SARAH ZIMMERMAN 🔥#NCAASoftball #SCTop10 x 🎥 ESPN+ / @Bucknell_SB
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) April 18, 2026
pic.twitter.com/LTSWkC0qFF
Avery Powers entered the circle in relief and stranded two Mountain Hawks after yielding a pair of singles.ÂPUTTING THE POP IN POPELLA!
— Bucknell Softball (@Bucknell_SB) April 18, 2026
Popella smashes her 16th double of the season, moving into sole possession of third all-time in single-season Bucknell history and tying the game!
Watch: https://t.co/0o1ZnPiRDd@ESPNPlus | @PatriotLeague#rayBucknell | #Team48 pic.twitter.com/mScX2Gg3kk
The Bison grabbed the lead in the sixth inning. Zimmerman again sparked the fire, this time with a double. She slammed a ball that narrowly missed leaving Becker Field by millimeters. The ball hit the top of the fence and bounced back. Haley Speicher slapped a triple over the right fielder's head and Zimmerman raced home.Â
The Mountain Hawks died hard. Gracie Smith flew out to Speicher. Kelly Fricker hit a loopy double that narrowly landed fair. Peyton Sward singled and Fricker raced for home. Speicher's rocket to Coppola erased the Mountain Hawk.
Powers then faced Holly Lovett, a dangerous hitter, with a runner on second. The freshman induced a swinging strikeout and the Bison rushed their pitcher in celebration.ÂSPEICHER STRIKE TO THE PLATE!
— Bucknell Softball (@Bucknell_SB) April 18, 2026
LEAD MAINTAINED!
Watch: https://t.co/BArAEzRRBs@ESPNPlus | @PatriotLeague#rayBucknell | #Team48 pic.twitter.com/IBvVdeg2y9
Game Two RecapPOWERS-FUL ENDING!
— Bucknell Softball (@Bucknell_SB) April 18, 2026
Powers generates the game-winning strikeout!
Bucknell wins 2-1!@ESPNPlus | @PatriotLeague#rayBucknell | #Team48 pic.twitter.com/gbfPHkBZlu
Lehigh bounced back with a six-inning defeat of the Bison. The Mountain Hawks scored in four of the six innings for the 10-2 victory.Â
Nina Barrouk received the start and, in two separate stints, threw five innings.Â
The scoring started immediately. Fricker led off with a double and Lovett, the goat of game one, smashed the first of her two home runs and Lehigh led 2-0.Â
An error by Skye Perez on a dropped pop-up jumpstarted the next inning. A sacrifice bunt followed. Fricker hit another double and Sward delivered a single to score the two runs.Â
Payton Hale entered the circle in relief and obtained two quick outs. Then, trouble began. Tabaka smashed a double and Hale plunked Lola Fasano. Gracie Smith doubled home her teammates. Fricker followed with a two-run homer and Lehigh led 8-0.Â
Bucknell broke up Chloe Hess' perfect game attempt in the fourth inning. Speicher singled to the shortstop and advanced to third on a single by Barbara Jo Coppola and Popella's fly out. Meadow Gambacurta delivered a two-run double that fell into the Bermuda Triangle.Â
Barrouk re-entered the game in the fourth inning and threw two scoreless frames before Lehigh tallied twice in the sixth inning. Lovett led off with her second home run of the game. Sydney Parlett doubled, advanced to third on a fly out, and then scored on a wild pitch.Â
Bucknell could not score a run to extend the game and game two went to Lehigh.Â
Up Next
The rubber match starts tomorrow at noon.Â
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Powers, Avery (5-11)
L: Addison Moorman (9-9)
Batting:
2B: Kelly Fricker 1 ; Holly Lovett 1
RBI: Abbey Tabaka 1
SF: Abbey Tabaka 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lizzie Kern 1
CS: Megan Lodge 1
Batting:
2B: Zimmerman, Sarah 1 ; Popella, Brooke 1
3B: Speicher, Haley 1
RBI: Speicher, Haley 1 ; Popella, Brooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zimmerman, Sarah 2
SB: Zimmerman, Sarah 1
HBP: Zimmerman, Sarah 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
1B/3B
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF/U
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
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