Bucknell Bison Softball Drops Doubleheader to Marist and Jacksonville: Recap and Analysis

2024-03-13 01:33:57
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.- The Bucknell Bison softball team (9-13) dropped a pair of games on Tuesday to the Marist Red Foxes (14-5) and Jacksonville Dolphins (10-12). Marist beat Bucknell 3-0 in a defensive struggle while Jacksonville used timely hitting to outlast the Bison, 9-4. Bucknell was hindered by 16 runners left on base and six errors committed. The Bison had offensive and defensive opportunities but might not convert.

Marist Recap

Madison Roukey started in the circle for Bucknell and, despite yielding a leadoff walk, avoided letting Marist score.

The Bison had its best scoring opportunity in the first inning. Elena Horn reached on an error and Haley Speicher singled. Zoie Smith struck out but MaKenzie Hilling singled to load the bases. With one out and the bases loaded, Bucknell seemed primed to score first. Alas, Brooke Popella hit into a fielder’s choice at home plate and Savannah Jones’ screaming line drive was collared.

Marist used great escape momentum to power through for a run in the second inning. The leadoff hitter reached on Annabella Hawkins’ error. A fly-out and walk followed. Both runners stole second and third. A sacrifice bunt scored the Red Foxes a 1-0 lead.

The Red Foxes tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning. The leadoff hitter smacked a home run. A single and a sacrifice bunt set the stage for a triple and the 3-0 lead. Hunter Vestal entered the circle and obtained the final two outs.

Bucknell’s final chance came in the sixth inning. Hilling singled, and Jones walked, but three grounders ended any comeback chance.

Jacksonville Recap

Savannah Jones started in the circle for Bucknell. Jones struggled with her control in the first inning, throwing four walks and two wild pitches. One of the wild pitches scored the Dolphins’ first run and gave Jacksonville an early 1-0 lead.

Jacksonville added two runs to its lead in the second inning. A leadoff double started the inning, followed by two pop-ups. A single placed runners at the corners. Bucknell appeared ready to escape the inning on a grounder to Jones, but the pitcher’s throwing error allowed two runs to score.

The Bison counterattacked to tie the game in the third inning. Noelle Gardon and Horn reached on the fielder’s choices. Smith doubled down the line with two outs to score both Bison runners. Hilling smacked a grounder up the middle that the shortstop mishandled, which scored Smith. Shea Malone walked. Popella singled to left field, but Hilling was caught trying to return to third base to end the inning.

Sarah Zimmerman entered the circle in the bottom of the third frame and lasted for one out. A leadoff double, a grounder, and a single returned the lead to Jacksonville.  A walk followed, and Vestal entered in relief. Vestal allowed a walk but obtained two more outs to prevent further damage.

The Bison had a prime opportunity to seize the lead in the fourth inning. Juliette Basso was inserted into the lineup and smacked a double. Jones popped up, and Marissa Rapino pinch hit and reached safety when the third baseman dropped the ball. Nicole Lioumis pinch hit for Horn and struck out looking. Speicher walked to load the bases. Smith nailed a screaming line drive, but the ball went directly to the left fielder.

Jacksonville added a run in its fourth frame. A walk, a single, and a sacrifice bunt placed runners on second and third. A slow grounder to the right side tallied the score and the 5-3 lead.

The Orange & Blue Crew once more loaded the bases in the fifth inning without scoring. Hilling reached on an error, Malone singled, Popella flew out, and Basso singled to fully book the bases. The threat passed when Jones popped up, and Gardon struck out swinging.

Jacksonville scored four runs in the fifth inning to seal the win. Two straight outs started the inning, and a grounder to Basso should have ended the inning, but the error gave Jacksonville new life. The batter stole second, and Malone’s error scored her. The next batter walked, and Roukey arrived from the pen. A third error, this time by Gardon, loaded the bases. Jacksonville didn’t waste the chance. Two straight singles tallied three runs and the 9-3 lead.

Bucknell got a run back in the sixth inning. Horn and Speicher walked. Smith reached on a fielder’s choice, which saw Horn out at third. A Hilling fly-out advanced Speicher to third. Malone singled in the 5-6 hole to score Speicher.

The Bison went down 1-2-3 in the seventh inning.

Up Next

Bucknell finishes spring break with a doubleheader tomorrow once morest North Florida.

Up Next

The Bison stay in Jacksonville to play North Florida twice.

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