Bucknell University
14-28, 6-10
Lafayette College
8-34-1, 4-12
Softball Takes Doubleheader, Sets Up Win and In Situation
5/6/2023 6:35:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison softball team (15-28, 7-10 PL) won two crucial games over the Lafayette Leopards (8-35-1, 4-13 PL) on Senior Day to position the Bison for the final seed in the Patriot League Tournament. Bucknell will be in the tournament if the wearers of Orange & Blue complete the sweep over Lafayette tomorrow. The Bison won 5-3 in Game One and staged a dramatic comeback in Game Two to win 5-4.
Game One Recap
Senior Olivia Marinelli started in the circle for the Bison.
The Leopards opened up the scoring in the second inning. A single and a hit-by-pitch opened the opportunity for a Lafayette hitter to smack a three-run homer. Marinelli rallied to stem the bleeding and keep it at 3-0.
Bucknell struck back for a run in the bottom of the second inning. Chase Knapp started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kailyn Lorberter singled to right field to put runners on the corners. Ava Aguilar laid a bunt single to load the bases. Noelle Gardon grounded into a double play, but Knapp scored the run to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Neither team scored any runs over the next few innings as both pitchers kept the offenses in check. Kaiya Burton relieved Marinelli in the top of the fourth inning, and the relief ace allowed zero runs to close out the game.
The Bison seized the lead in the fifth inning. Makenzie Hilling singled, and Savannah Jones' single advanced her to third. With two outs, Jones stole second. Knapp hit a laser off the pitcher's leg to score a run and then stole second. Lorberter gave herself a Senior Day to remember with a two-run single to right field for a 4-3 Bucknell lead. Aguilar added another RBI single to pad the lead at 5-3.
Burton finished the Leopards by retiring the last six out of seven batters.
Game Two Recap
Savannah Jones started in the circle for game two.
Lafayette scored first on a Bucknell error. The second batter hit a single, and with two outs, a single down the left field line advanced the first runner to third. Gardon threw to Lorberter to try to nab the straying hitter at second, but the ball was mishandled, and the runner on third scored for the early 1-0 lead.
The Leopards tallied another run in the second inning. A single and stolen base set up the chance. With two outs, another single stroked into right field gave the Easton team a 2-0 lead.
Bucknell counterattacked in the bottom of the second inning. Knapp tripled to right center, and Lorberter delivered an RBI grounder to score her. Gardon stroked a double to right field, and Annabella Hawkins walked, but a Speicher bunt attempt failed.
Madison Roukey entered the circle in the top of the fourth inning. She obtained a strikeout, but two singles and a double scored a run. Burton then entered the circle. A fielder's choice scored another run for a 4-1 Lafayette lead. Burton ended the inning with another grounder.
The Bison bats were kept silent for the game until the bottom of the seventh inning when the rally hooves appeared. Aguilar started the rally with a single but was called out on a close play at second on Gardon's fielder's choice. Elena Horn pinch-hit for Hawkins and delivered with a double. Speicher grounded out to second base for the second out, but Gardon scored. Hilling stroked a single to left center for another run. Bella Radican was inserted as a pinch runner for Hilling. Zoie Smith kept the excitement going with another single. Jones dramatically ended the game with a two-run double that scored Radican and Smith to win the game.
BISON WIN!
— Bucknell Softball (@Bucknell_SB) May 6, 2023
BISON WIN 5-4!
RALLY HOOVES!!!!!
JONES HITS A TWO-RUN DOUBLE AND THE BISON NOW CONTROL OUR DESTINY! @NCAASoftball @PatriotLeagueTV
#rayBucknell | #Team45 pic.twitter.com/qY3Ndysjm4
Up Next
Bucknell finishes the series tomorrow with Lafayette. It is a win and in situation for the Bison. A Bucknell triumph puts the Bison in the tournament.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Burton, Kaiya (3-7)
L: Gardiner, Morrigan (3-10)
Batting:
HR: Brown, Kristen 1
RBI: Brown, Kristen 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Powell, Marisa 1 ; Sandidge, Paige 1 ; Brown, Kristen 1
HBP: Sandidge, Paige 1
Batting:
2B: Smith, Zoie 1
RBI: Knapp, Chase 1 ; Lorberter, Kailyn 2 ; Aguilar, Ava 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hilling, MaKenzie 1 ; Jones, Savannah 1 ; Knapp, Chase 2 ; Lorberter, Kailyn 1
SB: Jones, Savannah 2 ; Knapp, Chase 1 ; Gardon, Noelle 1
