Softball Bounces Back, Tops Bucknell in Nightcap

Sunday, April 10

Lewisburg, PA

12 PM

Army West Point

22-14, 4-2

Bucknell

21-12, 6-1

Army

Bucknell

Softball Bounces Back, Tops Bucknell in Nightcap

April 10, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Army West Point softball team split its doubleheader with Bucknell Sunday afternoon. The Black Knights dropped a tight first game to the Bison 1-0 in nine innings before topping Bucknell 9-3 in game two.

"Overall, we have been resilient offensively," said head coach Michelle DePolo. "In game one we put the ball in play a lot we just made it too easy on their defense. Game two we just did a good job pressuring their pitcher and their defense and capitalizing on some mistakes."

With that said, we had two great pitching performances by Caroline and Renee and very solid defense to back them up.

Game one remained in a 0-0 deadlock until the bottom of the ninth inning when the Bison clinched the game with a walk off hit. Although scoreless, the game was an exciting one and featured pitcher Caroline Smith who had the hard luck loss.

Smith retired eight straight batters before the Bison (21-13, 6-2 Patriot League) made it on a base in the ninth inning. She didn't allow a hit between the fifth and eighth innings to help Army (23-14, 5-2 PL) stay in the game.

The Bison had a player on first and second with no outs in the home half of the ninth. A double play from Alee Rashenskas to Emily Gray gave Army two outs, but advanced Bucknell's game winning run on third. A walk off by Midyette gave the Bison the run it needed to clinch.

Army came back with a vengeance in game two and took an early 1-0 lead. McCravey made it on base after hitting a single down the right field line and advanced to scoring position on the next play. Then, a single up the middle by Gray sent McCravey home giving the Black Knights their first run of the series.

Neither team was able to convert runs through the fourth, but a six-run fifth fueled the Cadets to a 7-0 lead. Smith started things off with a hit up the left side. Kristen McPeek reached off a Bison error which pushed Smith to scoring position.

Yoo was then walked which meant the bases were loaded for the Black Knights. Mae Wadyka singled up the middle earning an RBI as Smith crossed home plate. Then, a Bison error allowed everyone to advance another base including McPeek tallying an unearned run.

McCravey reached first on a walk to re-load the bases for Rashenskas who reached on a fielder's choice, but a third error by Bucknell enabled the Cadets to notch two more runs to put them ahead 6-0. A sacrifice bunt by Gladys Esparza-Gallegos allowed Rashenskas to round the bases and give Army a 7-0 advantage.

Bucknell bounced back in the home half of the sixth fueled by a two-run RBI single by Hadley. The Black Knights got out of the inning allowing just three to bring the score to 7-3.

In the top of the seventh, Army increased its lead to 9-3 after a double by Rashenskas and a single by Gray. The Bison were not able to stage a comeback in the bottom of the seventh and the Cadets secured the 9-3 win. Poirier earned the win from the circle with three strikeouts to record her 5-5 on the season.

The Black Knights will face Bucknell in the third and final game of the series Monday afternoon at 2 p.m.

For up-to-date information about Army softball, please follow @ArmyWP_Softball on Twitter and Instagram.