Softball Faces Boston in Weekend Series

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell Softball (5-23-1, 2-1 Patriot League) resumes conference play this weekend against the Boston Terriers (26-11, 5-1 Patriot League). The Orange & Blue spent last week in non-conference competition against Cornell and Saint Francis. The Bison dropped both games to Cornell, defeated SFU 25-2 and then tied the Red Flash 12-12. This weekend's games were moved up a day due to foreboding forecasts. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.

The Inside "Herd" on the Bison

Bucknell fell 11-3 (5) and 10-2 (5) to Cornell last Tuesday in a pair of run-rule defeats.
The Bison rebounded on Thursday, routing Saint Francis 25-2 (5) and then tying the Red Flash 12-12 (8).
The offense exploded over SFU's pitching, scoring the most runs since defeating Coppin State 20-0 in 2008. Bucknell tallied 16 runs during the third inning. The Bison's 23 RBIs broke the program record set back in 1981 over Mansfield.
The Orange & Blue led 10-0 in the second game and were set to end it in five innings when the Red Flash, down to their strike, smacked a grand slam. SFU rallied for the 11-10 lead in the seventh inning. Bucknell tied it up and sent the game to extra innings. Both teams scored a run in the eighth inning and darkness forced an unsatisfactory tie.
Barbara Jo Coppola broke new ground in Bucknell Softball history. The rookie won D1 Softball Mid-Major Freshman of the Week - the first time a Bucknell player received a weekly award from D1 Softball - for her electric bat. The newcomer hit .615, slugged 1.077, delivered her first collegiate home run against Cornell, and drove in nine RBIs. She also received NFCA Top Selection Honorable Mention.
Coppola blew away the Red Flash pitching. She batted .667 with a triple and seven RBIs.
Brooke Popella added two doubles against SFU and now sits sixth nationally in doubles per game (.46).

Overview of the Opposition

The Terriers are 26-11 overall and 5-1 in Patriot League play. Boston defeated ranked Duke twice. In conference play, the Terriers swept Lafayette and took two of three from Lehigh. Hitting has remained a strength with the team batting .327 and Kylie Doherty clubbing 14 home runs. Kasey Ricard's ERA has risen to 3.10 but the senior pitcher remains dependent and heavily used with a 18-5 record and 140 innings logged.

History with the Foes

Boston owns a 30-7 record in the series and has won the last 18 games. The Bison have come close in recent years, dropping two 1-0 games in 2024 and taking the Terriers to 15 innings last year - the longest Division I game in 2025.

Up Next

Bucknell travels to Lafayette for a three-game series on April 11 and 12.