Friday, February 24
Greenville, N.C.
10 a.m.
Bucknell University
3-8
2
vs
3
Radford University
5-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Bucknell
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
2
7
1
Radford
0
1
0
0
2
0
X
3
5
0
Photo by: Bucknell Athletics
Softball Defeated Twice at the Pirate Clash
2/24/2023 5:11:00 PM | Softball
GREENVILLE, N.C.- The Bucknell Bison softball team (3-9) lost two games at the Pirate Clash on Friday. The Bison fell 3-2 in a heartbreaker against Radford and stumbled 5-2 against in-state rival Saint Francis University.
The game against the Radford Highlanders was a classic back-and-forth affair. Radford struck first on an RBI double. Bucknell responded in kind with a Chase Knapp RBI double. Bucknell went ahead 2-1 on a MaKenzie Hilling single in the fifth inning. Radford retaliated in their fifth frame with a two-run homer for the 3-2 lead. The Bison had two runners on in the seventh inning but failed to bring them home.
Saint Francis jumped ahead 3-0 in the first inning off a solo home run and a two-run blast. The Red Flash followed up in the second inning with a run off a throwing error by Kailyn Lorberter. Saint Francis added another run for the 5-0 lead with a solo bomb in the third inning. The Bison pitching staff rallied to keep the Red Flash offense silent for the remainder of the game. Bucknell scored twice in the sixth inning when Zoie Smith drove in Elena Horn and Hilling with a sharp double. But the Bison could not score again.
Game One: Radford 3, Bucknell 2
Olivia Marinelli started in the circle for the Bison. Neither team placed a baserunner until Radford opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. A walk and a stolen base allowed the Highlanders to hit an RBI double for the 1-0 lead.
The Bison obtained their first baserunner of the game in the following inning when Ava Aguliar singled to left field, but she was left stranded after a sacrifice bunt and grounder.
Radford threatened to increase its lead in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff double chased Marinelli, and Caffrey inserted Hunter Vestal. Vestal granted a free pass and a single to load the bases. A wild pitch lured the Highlander on third to race for home, but Zoie Smith made a phenomenal play to tag out the threat. Vestal, renewed by the momentum, induced two strikeouts to end the frame.
Bucknell carried the charge into the fourth inning. With two outs, Zoie Smith walked and then stole second. Chase Knapp pounded a double to score Smith and tie the game at 1-1.
Burton entered the game in the bottom of the fourth inning and shut down Radford thanks to a sparking double play.
Bucknell seized the lead in the fifth inning. Aguilar led off with a walk, Annabella Hawkins hit a bunt single, and Horn reached on a fielder's choice. Hilling stroked a single to left center to score Hawkins. Savannah Jones flew out to left field. With two outs, Zoie Smith singled, but Elena Horn was gunned down at home. The lost run would prove to be fateful.
Radford immediately countered in their frame of the fifth inning. A two-run bomb followed a single to give Radford a 3-2 lead. An error by the shortstop pushed Burton from the game. Roukey arrived and promptly gained three outs to minimize the damage.
The sixth inning saw Knapp walk, but a sacrifice bunt would prove fruitless as two grounders ended the chance. Roukey did not give Radford any chance at insurance runs by obtaining a 1-2-3 inning.
The Bison almost pulled off some two-out magic in the seventh inning. Hilling walked, and Jones singled as both runners ended on second and third on the throw. But Smith's sharp grounder was gobbled up by the Radford shortstop for the final out.
Game Two: Saint Francis University 5, Bucknell 2
Berwick native Mea Consentino made her collegiate debut and started strong by obtaining two straight outs, including the leadoff hitter via a strikeout. Unfortunately, Saint Francis then swung some big bats hitting a solo home run, a double, and then a two-run blast to give SFU a quick 3-0 lead. A single followed, but Consentino remained calm and induced her second strikeout of the frame.
The Bison went down in order in their first at-bats, a theme destined to be repeated for the first four innings of play.
Saint Francis added another run in the second inning. A hit by pitch, a sacrifice bunt, and a passed ball placed the leadoff runner on third. A throwing error by Lorberter scored the run. A fly-out to right field ended the inning without further damage.
The Red Flash scored their final run of the game in the third inning with a solo home run for a 5-0 lead.
Olivia Marinelli, who entered the circle in the fourth inning, handcuffed the potent Red Flash bats holding them to two hits and striking out SFU batters during her four innings.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Bucknell broke up the perfect game bid with a Zoie Smith walk, and then Angelina Seropian was plunked by the SFU pitcher, but the Bison could not capitalize with two baserunners.
The Bison broke through in the sixth inning. A pitch hit Horn, and Hilling singled. With Zoie Smith stepped up to the plate and racked a double to left center to score both runners. Knapp struck out swinging, but the Orange & Blue had life.
However, there was no seventh-inning rally as Bucknell went down 1-2-3 to end the game.
Up Next
The Bison conclude the Pirate Clash tomorrow with a game against Radford.
The game against the Radford Highlanders was a classic back-and-forth affair. Radford struck first on an RBI double. Bucknell responded in kind with a Chase Knapp RBI double. Bucknell went ahead 2-1 on a MaKenzie Hilling single in the fifth inning. Radford retaliated in their fifth frame with a two-run homer for the 3-2 lead. The Bison had two runners on in the seventh inning but failed to bring them home.
Saint Francis jumped ahead 3-0 in the first inning off a solo home run and a two-run blast. The Red Flash followed up in the second inning with a run off a throwing error by Kailyn Lorberter. Saint Francis added another run for the 5-0 lead with a solo bomb in the third inning. The Bison pitching staff rallied to keep the Red Flash offense silent for the remainder of the game. Bucknell scored twice in the sixth inning when Zoie Smith drove in Elena Horn and Hilling with a sharp double. But the Bison could not score again.
Game One: Radford 3, Bucknell 2
Olivia Marinelli started in the circle for the Bison. Neither team placed a baserunner until Radford opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. A walk and a stolen base allowed the Highlanders to hit an RBI double for the 1-0 lead.
The Bison obtained their first baserunner of the game in the following inning when Ava Aguliar singled to left field, but she was left stranded after a sacrifice bunt and grounder.
Radford threatened to increase its lead in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff double chased Marinelli, and Caffrey inserted Hunter Vestal. Vestal granted a free pass and a single to load the bases. A wild pitch lured the Highlander on third to race for home, but Zoie Smith made a phenomenal play to tag out the threat. Vestal, renewed by the momentum, induced two strikeouts to end the frame.
Bucknell carried the charge into the fourth inning. With two outs, Zoie Smith walked and then stole second. Chase Knapp pounded a double to score Smith and tie the game at 1-1.
Burton entered the game in the bottom of the fourth inning and shut down Radford thanks to a sparking double play.
Bucknell seized the lead in the fifth inning. Aguilar led off with a walk, Annabella Hawkins hit a bunt single, and Horn reached on a fielder's choice. Hilling stroked a single to left center to score Hawkins. Savannah Jones flew out to left field. With two outs, Zoie Smith singled, but Elena Horn was gunned down at home. The lost run would prove to be fateful.
Radford immediately countered in their frame of the fifth inning. A two-run bomb followed a single to give Radford a 3-2 lead. An error by the shortstop pushed Burton from the game. Roukey arrived and promptly gained three outs to minimize the damage.
The sixth inning saw Knapp walk, but a sacrifice bunt would prove fruitless as two grounders ended the chance. Roukey did not give Radford any chance at insurance runs by obtaining a 1-2-3 inning.
The Bison almost pulled off some two-out magic in the seventh inning. Hilling walked, and Jones singled as both runners ended on second and third on the throw. But Smith's sharp grounder was gobbled up by the Radford shortstop for the final out.
Game Two: Saint Francis University 5, Bucknell 2
Berwick native Mea Consentino made her collegiate debut and started strong by obtaining two straight outs, including the leadoff hitter via a strikeout. Unfortunately, Saint Francis then swung some big bats hitting a solo home run, a double, and then a two-run blast to give SFU a quick 3-0 lead. A single followed, but Consentino remained calm and induced her second strikeout of the frame.
The Bison went down in order in their first at-bats, a theme destined to be repeated for the first four innings of play.
Saint Francis added another run in the second inning. A hit by pitch, a sacrifice bunt, and a passed ball placed the leadoff runner on third. A throwing error by Lorberter scored the run. A fly-out to right field ended the inning without further damage.
The Red Flash scored their final run of the game in the third inning with a solo home run for a 5-0 lead.
Olivia Marinelli, who entered the circle in the fourth inning, handcuffed the potent Red Flash bats holding them to two hits and striking out SFU batters during her four innings.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Bucknell broke up the perfect game bid with a Zoie Smith walk, and then Angelina Seropian was plunked by the SFU pitcher, but the Bison could not capitalize with two baserunners.
The Bison broke through in the sixth inning. A pitch hit Horn, and Hilling singled. With Zoie Smith stepped up to the plate and racked a double to left center to score both runners. Knapp struck out swinging, but the Orange & Blue had life.
However, there was no seventh-inning rally as Bucknell went down 1-2-3 to end the game.
Up Next
The Bison conclude the Pirate Clash tomorrow with a game against Radford.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: GREENE, Chloe (1-1)
L: Burton, Kaiya (0-3)
S: DEHART, Skyler (1)
Batting:
2B: Knapp, Chase 1
RBI: Hilling, MaKenzie 1 ; Knapp, Chase 1
SH: Lorberter, Kailyn 1 ; Hawkins, Annabella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Zoie 1 ; Hawkins, Annabella 1
SB: Smith, Zoie 1
Batting:
2B: SHEDRICK, Kari 1 ; SMITH, Rachel 1
HR: SMITH, Rachel 1
RBI: SHEDRICK, Kari 1 ; SMITH, Rachel 2
SH: ROBERTS, Lexie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MCMILLAN, Cori 1 ; STANLEY, Kyndall 1 ; SMITH, Rachel 1
SB: MCMILLAN, Cori 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
Util
/ SoftballUtil
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballRHP
/ SoftballUT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C/IF
/ SoftballC/UT
/ Softball
RHP/INF
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