Softball Drops PL Doubleheader To Bucknell

Saturday, April 18

West Point, N.Y.

1:00 PM

Army West Point

19-20-1, 8-5

Bucknell

26-17, 5-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Bucknell Bison	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	3	8	2
Army West Point	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	7	1

Softball Drops PL Doubleheader To Bucknell

April 18, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

April 18, 2015

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army West Point softball team dropped a Patriot League doubleheader to Bucknell Saturday afternoon at the Army Softball Complex. Amanda Fazio picked up the save as the Bison nipped the Black Knights' rally in handing them a 3-2 loss in the opener, then went the distance hurling Bucknell to a 4-1 nightcap decision.

The double losses snapped the Cadets' (19-21-1, 8-6 PL) six-game unbeaten streak, while the Bison (27-17, 6-5 PL) extended their win streak to eight straight.

"Obviously we were not happy with today's outcomes," stated Army head coach Michelle DePolo. "Game one had a very disappointing ending. We had our chances but things just didn't work out.

"I thought we made good adjustments in game two and really put the ball in play well. We out hit them and got a few free passes, but with all those opportunities, we simply left too many people on base. It was an emotional game that could have gone either way. There were a few close calls and plays that really swayed the ultimate outcome.

"We are a strong team when we are firing on all cylinders. Tomorrow is a new day and new opportunity to show what we can do."

Trailing 3-0 in the series opener, Army West Point rallied for a pair of runs in the home half of the seventh after leading off with four straight hits. Alex Gaff's single up the middle knocked in Emily Gray, who opened with a leadoff single, and pinch hitter Caroline Smith's double delivered pinch runner Sam Hartman for the second run as starter Dana Nelson (10-4) gave way to Fazio.

With no outs and runners at second and third, Fazio struck out the first batter she faced, then loaded the bases after intentionally walking Kasey McCravey, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Week. A fielder's choice at home plate and a groundout ended Army West Point's rally as Fazio recorded her second save of the year.

Black Knight pitcher Kristen West kept Bucknell off the scoreboard until the top of the fifth when Kristen Zahn's two-run homer with one out delivered base runner Cydnee Sanders, who reached on an error, for a 2-0 lead. Bucknell padded its lead for what would prove to be the deciding run in the sixth after Sanders, who beat out an infield hit, moved around on a stolen base and back-to-back fielder's choice for a 3-0 lead.

Nielson, who got out of a jam in the third on a strikeout with runners in scoring position on a walk and error, scattered two hits over the first five frames. Army West Point collected its third hit off her in the sixth before pounding out four in the seventh in collecting seven for the game. Gray went 2-for-3 with five others getting a hit.

In the nightcap, Bucknell staked Fazio to a 2-0 lead on Erin Cox' two-run double in the top of the first inning. Army West Point answered with a run when Kristen McPeek, who walked, scored on Xiomara Perez' fielder's choice, but a groundout to the third baseman nipped the Black Knights' rally with runners stranded at second and third.

Bucknell manufactured a run in the top of the second inning when leadoff batter Jacee Almond, who doubled, scored on a bases-loaded walk to Sanders that extended the Bison's lead to 3-0. Smith (10-11) shut down the Bison on a lineout to the third baseman in leaving bases loaded.

The Black Knights threatened in the third, fourth and fifth innings, stranding two runners in each, but Fazio got out safely. A groundout ended Army West Point's threat with runners at first and second in the third, a play at home plate ended one in the fourth inning after collecting three hits off Fazio. Then a fielder's choice kept the Black Knights off the scoreboard in the fifth.

Army West Point threatened again in the sixth when Gladys Esparza-Gallegos ripped a two-out double, but Fazio induced the next batter on a grounder back to the circle, then in the final seven, a double play denied the host Black Knights.

The Black Knights collected 10 hits in the game with McCravey and Gray each with a pair. Gray had two hits in both games batting .571 going 4-for-7 with a run scored. McCravey hit .429 (3-for-7) with Smith and Rashenskas each batting .400 going 2-for-5. Smith, Gaff (.333) and Perez each drove in a run. Army West Point outhit Bucknell 17-16 in the twinbill.

Army West Point and Bucknell close out the three-game series with Sunday's rubber game, 1 p.m., at the Army Softball Complex.