Feb. 15, 2008

Bucknell-Eastern Michigan Box Score (L, 12-7)
Bucknell-Longwood Box Score (L, 3-2)

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Bucknell softball team opened its 2008 season Friday afternoon at the Lancer Leadoff Classic and lost both its games, falling to Eastern Michigan 12-7 and host Longwood 3-2. The Bison will continue their season-opening weekend Saturday with another game against Eastern Michigan at noon.

Highlighting Bucknell's offensive attack against Eastern Michigan were freshman Alison Ford (Suison, Calif./Fairfield), who was 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk, and sophomore Sherry Finkel (Morgantown, W. Va./University), who was 2-for-4 with a three-run home run. It was the third career round-tripper for Finkel.

Ashley Carlson (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury), who was second on the team with a .338 batting average a year ago, recorded two hits and a walk as the Bison touched Eastern Michigan pitchers for nine hits in the contest. Freshman Elyse Colmenero (Fresno, Calif./Central) also had an RBI double.

In the nightcap, the Bison trailed 3-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning and plated two runs behind a pair of pinch hitters, but came up short of tying the score. Sam Rollandi (San Carlos, Calif./Notre Dame Belmont) and Heather Haskin (Noblesville, Ind./Thomas Scecina) recorded the RBIs.

Colmenero led off the seventh inning with a walk and Jessie Snyder (Tacoma, Wash./Stadium) reached on a fielder's choice. A grounder to the right side by Alyssa Okita (Davis, Calif./Davis) moved both Colmenero and Snyder into scoring position. Haskin then knocked in the first run for Bucknell on a groundout. Later, Rollandi registered her first career RBI single.

Christie Wiest (Centre Hall, Pa./Penns Valley) pitched a complete game for the Bison, yielding five hits, three runs, two earned runs and two walks while striking out four. The Lancers plated one run in the fourth and two more in the fifth against Wiest.

Bucknell, which is slated to play five games this weekend, will take on Eastern Michigan at noon on Saturday. The Bison will wrap up their weekend of play Sunday against Pittsburgh and Morehead State. Entering play today, Bucknell had never faced any of its four weekend opponents.

Game 1
BUCKNELL		0 3 2 1 0 0 1 -	7
EASTERN MICHIGAN	1 2 5 0 1 3 X -	12

Game 2
LONGWOOD		0 0 0 1 2 0 0 - 3
BUCKNELL		0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 2