The Bison fell to the Delaware State Hornets in the first game of the series with a 2-1 extra-inning nail-biter. Despite strong pitching, only getting four hits and leaving ten runners on base set the Orange and Blue up for defeat.
Madison Roukey ʼ25 started in the circle and pitched the entire game for the Bison. She accumulated seven strikeouts while only giving up five hits, three walks and two runs of which only one was earned.
The Hornets scored a run in the first inning off of a walk, sacrifice bunt and a double to score the runner. In the fifth inning, the Bison had runners on second and third, but a grounder ended the inning.
The Orange and Blue made it onto the scoreboard in the seventh inning. With one out left, Skye Perez ʼ28 walked and Haley Speicher ʼ26 hit a triple to the gap in center field, tying the game 1-1.
In the ninth inning, the Bison couldn’t capitalize off having runners on base. Molly Lawson ʼ27 hit a single, and Angelina Seropian ʼ26 was hit by a pitch. Senior Bella Radican’s sacrifice attempt resulted in a pop-up. Perez reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced Reagan Powell ʼ28, who ran for Lawson. Perez stole second, but Speicher grounded out to end the inning.
The tenth inning had a unique ending. The international tie-breaker rule sent a runner to second base for the Hornets, and a mishap from Marissa Rapino ʼ26 on a routine fly ball allowed that runner to score and the Hornets to win game one 2-1.
The Bison rebounded in game two with a 5-1 victory.
In the third inning, the Bison scored four runs. Ava Aguliar ʼ25 knocked a single and stole second, and Speicher moved her to third with a grounder. Perez hit a deep ground ball to the shortstop and scored Aguilar. Shea Malone ʼ27 walked, and Mackenzie Hilling ʼ25 added a single. Brooke Popella ʼ27 doubled to left field to score both runners and advanced to third on an error. Nicole Lioumis ʼ26 brought Popella home with a single.
Popella fired another RBI double to left for an insurance run in the fifth inning. Malone walked, and Hilling advanced her to second with a bunt.
The Hornets scored their only run of the game in the fifth. Sarah Zimmerman ʼ27 pitched a clean game for the Bison, earning her first win of the season.
The Bison finished the series with a win in game three.
The Orange and Blue started strong, scoring a run in the first inning. Perez singled and advanced to second due to an error by the center fielder. Hilling managed an infield single, and Perez raced home to score.
In the second inning, the Hornets loaded the bases but a fielder’s choice and a grounder to second worked in Roukey’s favor.
The Bison scored two more runs in the third. Speicher walked, Perez bunted for a hit, Malone popped up and a fly ball from Hilling advanced the runners. Popella hit a two-run single.
In the seventh inning, the Bison added two more insurance runs. Perez hit a single, and Hilling sent her home with an RBI double; Kate Dailor ʼ28 pinch-ran for Hilling. Popella’s flyout advanced Dailor to third. Lioumis hit a single, scoring Dailor.
Roukey claimed her first win of the season after pitching a shutout, only allowing seven hits and no walks while striking out four batters.
The Bison will compete in the Hokie Invite starting Friday, Feb. 28.
