Bucknell University
9-18, 1-3
Lehigh University
25-6, 4-0
Softball Falls to Lehigh in Doubleheader
4/1/2023 5:09:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison softball team (9-19, 1-4 PL) dropped both ends of the doubleheader against Lehigh on Saturday. The Bison lost 6-2 in Game One and 5-1 in Game Two.
The Bison could not capitalize on their opportunities while the Mountain Hawks pushed across the runs when necessary.
Game One Recap: Lehigh 6, Bucknell 2
Madison Roukey started in the circle for the Bison. Neither team scored in the first inning. Lehigh had two hits in the first inning, but a double play and a grounder erased the threat.
Lehigh struck for two runs in the second inning. A leadoff single and a stolen base set up the first chance. A double down the left field line scored the first RBI. A strikeout followed, but another double down the left field line scored the second run. A single to second base proved harmlessly as a Lehigh runner darted for home and was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Bucknell put up two hits in the top of the third inning. Annabella Hawkins struck a solid blow to center field, and Haley Speicher singled up the middle. However, a fly-out ended the inning.
Hunter Vestal entered the circle in relief at the start of the bottom of the third inning. Lehigh greeted her with three straight hits. A single and a double made the score 3-0. A single to the shortstop placed runners on the corners. A steal of second base followed. Charles hit a sacrifice fly for the 4-0 lead. A perfectly executed sacrifice squeeze plated the fifth run. A fielder's choice ended the inning, but Lehigh had the definite edge.
MaKenzie Hilling and Noelle Gardon walked in the top of the fourth inning, but a pop-up and two strikeouts ended the opportunity.
Lehigh tacked on another run in their fourth frame. Two singles started the inning. Two fly-balls followed, which advanced a runner to third. The steal of second base forced an errant throw which scored the runner on third. A pop-up closed the inning with Lehigh up 6-0.
Bucknell counterattacked in the top of the fifth inning. Hawkins led off with a walk, and Chase Knapp laid down a sacrifice bunt. Speicher singled to set up runners on the corners for Zoie Smith. Smith delivered with a single down the left-field line to score Hawkins. Savannah Jones walked to load the bases. Hilling struck out. Gardon walked in the second run. Marissa Rapino grounded out to end the inning.
The remainder of the game saw little action as both pitchers shut down the opposition. The Bison ended the game with a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh inning.
Game Two Recap: Lehigh 5, Bucknell 1
Savannah Jones started in the circle for the Bison.
The first three innings witnessed merely two hits, both collected by Lehigh, as the starting pitchers dominated the action. A nifty double play erased Lehigh's first baserunner.
The Mountain Hawks struck first in the fourth inning. A screaming liner zoomed past Gardon's glove, and a sacrifice bunt placed the runner at second. A double down the left field line scored the runner. Jones prevented further damage by inducing two straight outs.
The Bison attempted to equal the scoring in the top of the fifth inning. Hilling led off with a walk. Gardon's sacrifice bunt placed her on second base. Angelina Seropian reached on a fielding error. But a pop-up turned into a double play to end the inning.
Lehigh added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Three straight fortunate singles occurred for the Mountain Hawks to load the bases. A diving Knapp turned a surefire single into an RBI fielder's choice. Another grounder to Knapp ended the inning with Lehigh up 2-0.
The Mountain Hawks added a massive amount of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. An error and a single forced a pitching change as Kaiya Burton entered the circle. A throwing error by Burton scored a run. A wild pitch and a sacrifice fly scored two more runs to give Lehigh a 6-0 advantage.
The Bison fought to the finish. Smith singled to lead off the inning, which also broke up the no-hitter. Hilling walked. Gardon reached on a fielder's choice thanks to a Lehigh throwing error which scored Smith. But two strikeouts ended the game with Lehigh up 6-1.
Up Next
The final game of the series starts tomorrow at noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Young, Katelyn (13-3)
L: Roukey, Madison (4-4)
Batting:
RBI: Smith, Zoie 1 ; Gardon, Noelle 1
SH: Knapp, Chase 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Speicher, Haley 1 ; Hawkins, Annabella 1
Batting:
2B: Cimino, Emily 1 ; Parlett, Sydney 1 ; Schmeiser, Maddy 1
RBI: Cimino, Emily 1 ; Charles, Josie 1 ; Greaney, Amanda 1 ; Parlett, Sydney 1 ; Schmeiser, Maddy 1
SH: Greaney, Amanda 1
SF: Charles, Josie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Owens, Lily 1 ; Cimino, Emily 1 ; Cannon, Brooke 1 ; Charles, Josie 1 ; Parlett, Sydney 1 ; Schmeiser, Maddy 1
SB: Barjaktarovich, C. 1 ; Cannon, Brooke 1 ; Charles, Josie 1
CS: Barjaktarovich, C. 1
