Bucknell University
Lehigh University
Softball Defeated in Final Game of the Lehigh Series
4/2/2023 5:20:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison softball team (9-20, 1-5 PL) faltered in the Lehigh series' final game, losing 5-1 to the fellow Pennsylvanian school. The Bison were left searching for the big hit while Lehigh bunched their hits into runs.
Recap: Lehigh 5, Bucknell 1
Olivia Marinelli started in the circle for the Bison and took the loss.
Neither team scored in the opening inning, though Lehigh had two baserunners. The first runner was, on a stolen base attempt, erased by Zoie Smith's arm. The second one was left stranded by Marinelli's pitching.
Lehigh tallied twice in the second inning. A leadoff walk and a single set up the Lehigh pitcher, Young, who promptly assisted her cause with a two-run double. Hunter Vestal was substituted for Marinelli. Two singles followed, but no more runs came across.
Bucknell struck back for a run in the top of the third inning. Marissa Rapino walked, and with two outs, Haley Speicher singled. MaKenzie Hilling hit a sky-high pop fly that landed near home plate when the Lehigh fielders miscommunicated. Rapino scored, but Hilling was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double. But Bucknell cut the deficit to 2-1.
Lehigh, in the bottom of the third inning, placed runners on the corners due to a single and an error. Vestal promptly obtained two straight strikeouts to escape the jam.
Bucknell had the chance to tie the game in the fourth inning when Chase Knapp singled and stole second, but a swinging strikeout ended the chance.
Lehigh added a run in their half of the fourth inning. With two outs, three singles did the trick to increase the lead to 3-1.
Noelle Gardon led off the fifth inning with a double off the left-field wall, but she was left stranded when the Bison batters made three straight outs.
Savannah Jones entered the circle for Bison in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lehigh cemented the victory with two insurance runs. A single and walk led off the inning. Two outs then occurred. But a two-out single up the middle plated both runners and gave Lehigh a 5-1 advantage.
Elena Horn managed a single in the seventh inning, but there was no late rally as Lehigh completed the sweep.
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The Bison hit the road again for an Easter weekend series against Army.
