Bison Softball traveled to Bethehem, Pa. for a three-game series against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. Despite their best defense efforts, the Orange and Blue dropped all three games of the weekend.
Saturday morning, Madison Roukey ʼ25 started on the mound and faced immediate challenges. Lehigh was able to bring in their first run after junior Haley Speicher’s throw home fell out of first year Reagan Powellʼs glove. After one more single came Lehigh’s second run. Before the inning ended, the Mountain Hawks scored once again after a passed ball and walk.
The fourth inning proved critical to Lehigh’s win. Roukey let up a double and walk before Sarah Zimmerman ʼ27 came in to take her place. A Lehigh runner stole third on Zimmerman’s first pitch. Soon followed a single that brought in two runners and pushed their lead. Another single made it 7-0.
The Bison managed to score in the next inning. The play started with senior Bella Radican’s walk. Juliette Basso made it to base after pinch-hitting for Speicher. Senior Ava Aguilar’s bunt attempt turned into a single. Marissa Rapino ʼ26 was next to hit, and Lehigh was unable to scoop up the grounder, leading to a Bison run.
The fifth inning went scoreless for both teams. Payton Hale ʼ28 led the charge on the mound. Lehigh managed to win after the sixth inning due to the mercy rule.
Later that afternoon, the Bison faced another tough matchup with the Mountain Hawks. This time, pitching proved to be the game changer. Savannah Jones ʼ25 started on the mound. Her performance kept Lehigh from scoring until the sixth inning, when they managed two runs. Lehigh’s pitcher allowed only two hits from the Bison.
In the sixth inning, Jones struck out the first batter. Lehigh managed a double after a Bison error. Their two runs came after three singles. Lehigh came close to two more runs, but Shea Malone ʼ28 managed to prevent it.
The Orange and Blue struggled to make anything happen throughout the remaining innings and the game ended 0-2.
The final game of the series took place Sunday afternoon. Lehigh leapt to a 10-0 lead only two innings in. Roukey was the starting pitcher once again but immediately faced challenges from Lehigh. They managed to score after the third batter hit a home run to bring in two runs.
Their next eight runs came in the next inning. Zimmerman came in to relieve Roukey after Lehigh took over. Zimmerman managed to close out the inning before anything else could happen.
In the third inning, Speicher hit a triple, but no one was able to bring her home before the inning ended. Lehigh got their 11th run after three singles. Mea Consentino ʼ26 closed out the inning on the mound. Lehigh invoked the mercy rule in the fifth inning to end the series.
Catch the Bison against Lafayette this weekend at home at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 and 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 13.
