Army Hands Bucknell First League Loss of 2019

Saturday, April 20

West Point

4 PM

Army West Point

22-25, 7-6

Bucknell

24-17, 12-1

Bucknell

Army West Point

Army Hands Bucknell First League Loss of 2019

April 20, 2019 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point softball team handed Bucknell its first Patriot League loss of the season as the two sides split the series-opening doubleheader at the Army Softball Complex on Saturday evening.

The Black Knights captured a 4-1 victory in the series opener to end the Bison's perfect 12-0 start to the Patriot League season. Bucknell rebounded in the second game, however, taking a 6-1 win to even the series.

Rookie Bianca Gonzalez powered the Army offense today with a pair of hits, including a double and her first collegiate home run. The Norco, Calif., native added two runs and two RBI on the day. Senior Carrie Reilly notched two base knocks as well with a single and a double in game one to go along with a run and an RBI.

In the circle, rookie Jolie Duong outdueled junior phenom Raeanne Geffert, who has been a First Team All-Patriot League selection in each of her first two collegiate seasons, with her 14th complete game effort of the season. The Houston, Texas, native allowed seven hits, one run (earned) and one walk over 7.0 innings of work while striking out seven.

In game two, senior Renee Poirier allowed just one unearned run and three hits in 4.1 innings while fanning six Bison.

GAME 1: Army 4, Bucknell 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

The Black Knights opened the scoring in the bottom of the third with three runs on four hits in the inning.
Emily Ballesteros single to open the frame before Gonzalez plated her from first with a double down the left field line.
Reilly traded places with Gonzalez with a double of her own before advancing to third on the throw.
She scored in the next at-bat when Ashley Yoo beat out a bunt for an infield single to make it a 3-0 game in favor of the home side.
Bucknell responded in the fifth inning when Jess Hom crossed the plate on a double steal, but that would be as close as the Bison would get.
Duong helped her own cause with an RBI double in the sixth which plated Taylor Drayton and secured the Army victory.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army improved to 4-1 in series openers against league opponents in 2019.
Drayton tallied her 35th hit of the season.
The Clayton, N.C., native collected the 75th base hit of her career.
Yoo drove in her 15th RBI of the season.
Duong contributed the fifth double of her rookie campaign.
The Houston, Texas, native struck out seven or more hitters for the fifth time this year.
She garnered her team-leading 10th win of the season.
Reilly notched her eighth multi-hit game of the year.
The Riverside, Ill., native scored the 50th run of her career.

GAME 2: Bucknell 6, Army 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

Army once again gained the first lead of the game in the third inning when Gonzalez blasted a solo shot over the wall in left center field.
Bucknell evened the score in the fifth before taking advantage of three Army errors for five runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Gonzalez slugged her first collegiate home run.
The Norco, Calif., native documented her 25th hit of the season.
Muffett added her 15th career base knock.

COACH'S CORNER

Interim head coach Bob Beretta - "I was extremely proud of our effort in the first game. We played a complete game on both sides of the ball, and Jolie Duong was outstanding in the circle. I thought she kept an excellent offensive team off balance the whole game. We played solid defensively and were able to string some hits together in that three-run inning. I thought the insurance run we added in the sixth was crucial as well. Carrie Reilly had another big hit for us to key the offense.
"We were in another tight battle in the second game but struggled defensively in the sixth inning. That opened the door for their five-run outburst. You have to give their pitcher credit. She limited our opportunities throughout the entire second game."

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