Bison Softball celebrated their seniors in a three-game series with Colgate this past weekend. Coming off of two big wins the week prior, the Orange and Blue kept the momentum up for three straight wins.
Savannah Jones ʼ25 was the starting pitcher in the first game, striking out four batters and letting up only two hits. One of those two hits came in the second inning. The Colgate batter managed to get to third on a wild pitch, but Jones prevented the runner from coming home.
The Orange and Blue brought in their first run in the second inning. Shea Malone ʼ28 made it on base off a single, followed by MaKenzie Hilling ʼ25, who was put on base after being hit by a pitch. Molly Lawson ʼ27 executed the RBI single to put the Bison up 1-0. They would score once more in the fifth inning as well. Haley Speicher ʼ26 was walked and made it to second on the following at bat after Jones hit a ground ball and made it to first. Brooke Popella ʼ27 hit a ball to the outfield for a double, and Speicher ran home. Jones closed out the game for the 2-0 victory.
Madison Roukey ʼ25 entered the circle for the second game on Saturday and her 23rd game win. The Bison got to work immediately in the first inning. It started with a single from Speicher, followed by another from Ava Aguilar ʼ25. But the fielder’s choice took Speicher off the base. Jones then made it to first, with Aguilar on second. Popella hit a ball to the Colgate pitcher, who threw to first instead. Malone’s at bat brought home Jones and Aguilar. With two runs now on the scoreboard, Hilling singled. After a ball went in the dirt, the Orange and Blue got caught up with the Colgate catcher, but Hilling stayed alive long enough for Malone to touch home for the third run.
The Raiders matched the Bison’s three runs in the third inning. Roukey closed out the inning with two quick outs before any more runs could come in. The Orange and Blue took back the lead in their frame. With Jones and Popella on base, Hilling hit a ball up to bring Jones to home plate. The Bison scored three more runs in the following inning. A series of singles loaded the bases with Nicole Lioumis ʼ26, Bella Radican ʼ25 and Speicher on base. Aguilar’s hit through the middle scored two runs. Jones was next with an RBI to score the next run.
Rain and lightning called for a 45-minute delay right before the seventh inning. Once play continued, Colgate tallied two singles. Roukey responded with three outs to end the game at 7-4.
The final game of the series took place Sunday afternoon. Jones was back on the mound and pitched her second shutout of the weekend, striking out four, walking only two and finishing with 82 pitches. Jones’ pitching led the game as the offense didn’t pick up until the sixth inning. They managed one run in the second. Angelina Seropian ʼ26 made it to first off a hit that fell right before the second baseman. Radican doubled, followed by Speicher getting walked, and suddenly the bases were loaded. Aguilar was walked on the sixth pitch, bringing in the first run before the inning finished out.
Both teams experienced a bit of a scoring drought until the Bison pumped out four runs. Marissa Rapino ʼ26 started it off by pinch hitting for Seropian. She made it to base on a walk and was substituted for Sarah Zimmerman ʼ27. Radican grounded in, advancing Zimmerman to second. Speicher walked and Aguilar singled, bringing Zimmerman in to score. Aguilar and Speicher each moved on to the next base on a relay pitch. Jones hit a double down the third base line that scored the on-base runners. Popella followed with a double that nearly mirrored Jones’ to bring in the fifth run. Jones pitched a quick final inning, ending the game with a big strikeout. Their 5-0 win marks their fifth straight win and first time sweeping Colgate since 2019.
The Bison will be back on the field away at Saint Francis this upcoming Tuesday.
