March 6, 2008

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell softball team will try to begin its busy Spring Break, which features a total of 11 games in a nine-day span, with some victories this weekend when it plays doubleheaders at Drexel and George Washington. The Bison will face the Dragons in Philadelphia, Pa., Saturday at 12 p.m. The next day, they will take on the Colonials in Washington, D.C., also at 12 p.m.

On Monday, Bucknell will fly to California for its week-long Spring Break trip. The Bison enter this weekend with a 2-7 record.

Bucknell Softball Notebook
Bucknell Recently (2-7, 0-0 PL)
South Carolina Gamecock Classic:
- March 1: W, 3-2 (8 in.) vs. Gardner-Webb
- March 1: L, 2-1 (8 in.) at South Carolina
- March 2: L, 9-1 (5 in.) vs. Gardner-Webb
- March 2: L, 8-0 (5 in.) at South Carolina
2008 Bucknell Softball Statistics

Bucknell Notes
- Bucknell head coach Heather Rakosik will coach her 150th game at the helm of the Bison this weekend in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader at Drexel.

- Christie Wiest, who entered this season with a 3.31 career ERA, leads the Bison with a career-best 1.50 ERA this year. She is 2-3 with 17 strikeouts in seven appearances (37.1 IP). She has registered four complete games in her five starts.

- Wiest is moving up a number of Bucknell's career lists. She is first in games (92), third in games started (70), tied for sixth in wins (22), tied for first in saves (3), fifth in innings (416.1) and third in strikeouts (275). She is within reach of first place in Bison history in games started, innings pitched and strikeouts.

- Freshman Jessie Snyder's only hit of last weekend was a big one as it propelled Bucknell to an extra-inning victory. Snyder posted a two-RBI single in the bottom of the eighth of last Saturday's 3-2 win over Gardner-Webb. She is tied with Kristin Frick for the team lead in runs scored with three, while her .316 on-base percentage is among the team leaders.

- Ashley Carlson posted the third three-hit game of her career in last Saturday's 3-2 victory over Gardner-Webb. Her .269 batting average leads the team.

- Outfielders Carlson and Ashley Beans are the only two Bison to start all nine games this season. Both juniors have started 57 of a possible 58 games over the last two years.

- Bucknell's defense has been strong against the stolen base this year. Opposing base stealers are just 10-for-19 this season with freshman catcher Elyse Colmenero throwing out four of 12 potential base stealers against her.

- Prior to this year, Bucknell had never before played any of its first six opponents.

- Bucknell's team ERA of 3.02 is significantly better than last year's 3.88 figure.

Bucknell vs. Weekend Opponents
- Bucknell is 15-20 all-time against Drexel. The Bison have lost six of their last seven against the Dragons, three of four over the last two years.

- Drexel is 4-7 this year, but lost four of five games on a recent trip to California. The Dragons are hitting .277 and have a team ERA of 5.01.

- Bucknell is 3-2 all-time against George Washington with the teams splitting a pair of meetings in 2006 in their most recent contests.

- George Washington is 3-6 in 2008 and enters the weekend having lost three of its last four games. The Colonials are hitting .333 with nine home runs, while their pitching staff has a 6.08 ERA.

Up Next
- Bucknell will spend Spring Break in California. The Bison will play five games in the Loyola Marymount Tournament and then face San Diego next Sunday in a doubleheader to wrap up the week.

Bucknell's Weekend Schedule
Saturday, March 8
Bucknell at Drexel (DH), 12 p.m.

Sunday, March 9
Bucknell at George Washington (DH), 12 p.m.