Softball defeated Lehigh 2-1 in the opening game of the series against the Mountain Hawks, the first regular-season victory against Lehigh since 2021. The Mountain Hawks took game two 10-2.
Mea Consentino ’26 started the game in the circle for the Bison and threw four strong innings. Despite not throwing a strikeout, Consentino kept the Mountain Hawks to only one run.
The game remained scoreless throughout the first three innings. Lehigh scored in the fourth inning, but an incredible catch from Sarah Zimmerman ’27 prevented any more scoring.
The Bison tied up the game in the fourth. Zimmerman was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Popella slapped a double to right center, bringing her to third all-time in Bucknell’s history with her 16th double of the season.
Avery Powers ’29 entered the circle and stranded two Mountain Hawks on base.
The Bison took the lead in the sixth inning. Zimmerman cranked a double, nearly hitting it over the fence. Haley Speicher ’26 smacked a triple over the right fielder’s head to score Zimmerman.
Powers induced a swinging strikeout to end the game with a 2-1 Bison victory.
Game two of the series went to Lehigh, 10-2.
The Orange and Blue battled back in game three to take the series with a 4-3 victory. Powers pitched a complete game for the Bison and held Lehigh’s offense to three runs (two earned) and five hits.
The Bison scored first in the second inning. Molly Lawson ’27 smacked the ball to center field and made it to second. Shea Malone ’27 hit a grounder to second, and Lawson came running home off the misfielded ball.
Lehigh scored their first run off a Bison error in the fourth inning. The Bison immediately battled back. Popella knocked her 17th double of the season. Meadow Gambactura ’29 grounded to third and was initially called safe, but a Lehigh challenge overturned the call. Popella advanced to third. Lawson slapped a double, and Popella scored. Skye Perez ’28 pinch ran for Lawson. Marissa Rapino ’26 hit a double down the left field line to score Perez and put the Bison up 3-1.
The Bison and Mountain Hawks each added a run in the fifth. Zimmerman reached base on a catcher’s interference. Speicher grounded to shortstop and beat the throw to first. With two outs, Popella hit an RBI single to put the Bison up 4-2.
The Mountain Hawks added another run, but an incredible catch by Zimmerman was the final out to secure the Bison’s series win. The Bison celebrate Senior Day on Saturday and host Army this weekend for their final home series of the season.
