The Orange and Blue softball team had a challenging weekend in Greensboro, N.C., losing the first three games and suffering a cancellation of the fourth. On the first day of play on Friday, the Bison lost both to Virginia 5-1 and Loyola Chicago 3-0.

Virginia had a fiery start against the Bison, scoring three runs in the first inning. The sole run against Virginia came from Chase Knapp ’23 in the top of the third, who hit her second home run of the season. This hit by the Bison had cut Virginia’s lead 3-1. 

Virginia answered back, scoring in the bottom of the third and the bottom of the fourth, taking the lead to 5-1. The Orange and Blue finished the game with six hits and one error compared to the Cavaliers’ seven hits and one error.

The Bison brought out four pitchers in this game: Kelly Toomey ’22, Madison Roukey ’25, Hunter Vestal ’24 and Olivia Marinelli ’23. 

Rookie Elena Horn ’25 had a very good game batting, going 2-3 while playing the Cavaliers. 

In the Bison’s second game of the day, they fell short to Loyola Chicago 3-0. The Orange and Blue only managed two hits throughout the game, coming from Horn and Jessie Kincer ’25. 

Kaiya Burton ’23 and Toomey were on the mound for the Bison, with a combined total of six strikeouts and four hits. 

The Ramblers got on board in the top of the first, while the Bison stuck out on their first six batters. Loyola sealed the game in the top of the fourth by getting two runs due to having two singles and a double. 

On the Bison’s second day of play on the weekend, the Bison lost to UNC Greensboro 10-1. UNC Greensboro started the game out strong with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. The Orange and Blue scored a run in the third, cutting the lead to 2-1. 

The Spartans had a very strong bottom of the fourth, scoring eight runs on eight hits, setting the score at 10-1. This inning by UNC Greensboro ultimately ended the game in five innings. 

Marinelli had suffered her first loss of the season, pitching the first three innings while striking four batters out. Horn had another successful day at bat, going 2-3 in leading the Bison offense. 

In the Bison’s last game of the weekend, they lost to Loyola Chicago 3-1. Toomey threw all seven innings, striking out seven and allowing nine hits. The Bison gave up early runs after two batters on Loyola Chicago got hit at the plate. 

With the Bison losing by three in the bottom of the seventh, Knapp, Nicole Rivait ’22 and Juliette Basso ’25 all singled in a row. Rivait scored the lone Bison run, however the game ended with the Bison not being able to catch up to the deficit. 

The Bison head to Madeira Beach, Fla. to take on Siena on Friday March 11 at their next game.