Bucknell Bison softball

For all Bucknell University sports, see Bucknell Bison.
Bucknell Bison
UniversityBucknell University
Head coachSarah Caffrey (4th season)
ConferencePatriot League
LocationLewisburg, PA
Home stadiumBecker Field[1] (Capacity: 800)
NicknameBison
ColorsBlue and orange[2]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
2010
Conference Tournament championships
1997, 2010
Regular Season Conference championships
1994, 1999

The Bucknell Bison softball team represents Bucknell University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Patriot League (PL), having joined in 1991. From 1979 until 1990, the team was a member of the East Coast Conference (ECC). The Bison are currently led by head coach Sarah Caffrey. The team plays its home games at Becker Field located on the university's campus.[1]

History

The Bison have found moderate success since becoming a Division I program. The team has won two Patriot League regular season championships, although both championships, first in 1994 and again in 1999, were as a result of a tie.[3] The program has also won two Patriot League Tournament championships, doing so in 1997 and in 2010, with the latter earing them a berth in the NCAA Division I softball tournament.

After finishing in third place in the Patriot League, the Bison qualified for the Patriot League Tournament as the #3 seed. The team defeated Colgate in the championship game by a score of 6-4, winning the tournament for the first time since 1997 and clinching their first appearance in the NCAA tournament.[4][5] In the 2010 tournament, the Bison were eliminated after losing to California and Ohio State.[6][7]

The Bison have won several awards during their time in the Patriot League. The team has won five Patriot League Player of the Year awards, doing so in 1993 with Lisa Fink,[8] 1999 with Jenny Snyder,[9] 2005 with Lauren Wible,[10] 2011 with Alison Ford,[11] and in 2015 with Kristen Zahn.[12] The team has also won the Patriot League Coach of the Year award seven times, doing so in 1994, 1996, and 1999 with Terrie Grieb, 2004 with Janelle Breneman, 2008 with Heather Rakosik, 2015 with Bonnie Skrenta, and 2019 with Joey Lye.[3][13]

Sarah Caffrey was hired as the program's head coach in 2020.[14][15]

Coaching history

Years Coach Record %
1979–1990, 1992–2000 Terrie Grieb 307–324–2 .487
1991 Dale Franquet 28–12–1 .695
2001–2004 Janelle Breneman 56–117–1 .325
2005–2012 Heather Rakosik 141–243–2 .368
2013–2015 Bonnie Skrenta 79–76 .510
2016–2017 Courtnay Foster 50–43 .538
2018–2020 Joey Lye 63–60–1 .512
2021–present Sarah Caffrey 35–80–1 .306

Roster

2024 Bucknell Bison roster
 

Pitchers

  • 16 – Mea Consentino – Sophomore
  • 17 – Savannah Jones – Junior
  • 7 – Madison Roukey – Junior
  • 12 – Hunter Vestal – Senior
  • 5 – Sarah Zimmerman – Freshman

Catchers

  • 8 – Nicole Lioumis – Sophomore
  • 13 – Angelina Seropian – Sophomore
  • 11 – Zoie Smith – Senior

Outfielders

  • 21 – Ava Aguilar – Junior
  • 4 – Elena Horn – Junior
  • 9 – Shea Malone – Freshman
  • 2 – Marissa Rapino – Sophomore
  • 1 – Haley Speicher – Sophomore
  

Infielders

  • 25 – Juliette Basso – Junior
  • 18 – Noelle Gardon – Senior
  • 19 – Brooke Popella – Freshman

Utility

  • 24 – Bridget Haller – Freshman
  • 3 – Annabella Hawkins – Senior
  • 14 – MaKenzie Hilling – Junior
  • 22 – Molly Lawson – Freshman
  • 6 – Bella Radican – Junior
  
Reference:[16]

Season by season results

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bucknell Bison (East Coast Conference) (1979–1990)
1979 Terrie Grieb 8–4
1980 Terrie Grieb 7–8
1981 Terrie Grieb 7–10
1982 Terrie Grieb 6–11
1983 Terrie Grieb 7–14
1984 Terrie Grieb 9–9–1 4–2
1985 Terrie Grieb 10–12 6–6
1986 Terrie Grieb 12–12 5–7
1987 Terrie Grieb 10–16–1 4–8
1988 Terrie Grieb 24–9 7–5
1989 Terrie Grieb 18–17 6–8
1990 Terrie Grieb 20–14 9–5
Bucknell Bison (Patriot League) (1991–present)
1991 Dale Franquet 28–12–1 9–3 2nd
1992 Terrie Grieb 20–17 7–5 T–3rd
1993 Terrie Grieb 27–8 8–4 2nd
1994 Terrie Grieb 17–21 10–2 T–1st
1995 Terrie Grieb 19–23 7–5 T–2nd
1996 Terrie Grieb 20–15 7–3 T–2nd
1997 Terrie Grieb 18–30 6–4 T–2nd
1998 Terrie Grieb 18–20 12–6 2nd
1999 Terrie Grieb 19–28 12–8 T–1st
2000 Terrie Grieb 11–26 2–8 6th
2001 Janelle Breneman 19–26–2 8–12 5th
2002 Janelle Breneman 12–32 5–15 5th
2003 Janelle Breneman 11–33 6–14 5th
2004 Janelle Breneman 14–26 8–12 4th
2005 Heather Rakosik 16–22 8–10 4th
2006 Heather Rakosik 15–37 8–12 5th
2007 Heather Rakosik 15–33–1 7–12 5th
2008 Heather Rakosik 23–29 13–7 T–2nd
2009 Heather Rakosik 19–32 9–11 3rd
2010 Heather Rakosik 28–20–1 11–9 3rd NCAA Regionals
2011 Heather Rakosik 14–36 5–15 T–5th
2012 Heather Rakosik 11–34 5–15 5th
2013 Bonnie Skrenta 21–30 11–9 3rd
2014 Bonnie Skrenta 23–26 10–8 3rd
2015 Bonnie Skrenta 35–20 12–6 2nd
2016 Courtnay Foster 27–23 11–7 4th
2017 Courtnay Foster 23–20 6–11 5th
2018 Joey Lye 27–23–1 13–5 2nd
2019 Joey Lye 28–24 14–3 2nd
2020 Joey Lye 8–14 0–0 N/A

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 Sarah Caffrey 12–18–1 9–14–1 5th
2022 Sarah Caffrey 7–38 3–15 6th
2023 Sarah Caffrey 16–30 8–10 4th
2024 Sarah Caffrey 0–0 0–0
Total: 759–955–8 (.443)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[3][17]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Becker Field - Facilities". Bucknell University Athletics.
  2. ^ "Bucknell University Brand Guidelines". Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "2023 Softball Record Book (PDF) - Patriot League" (PDF). patriotleague.org.
  4. ^ "Article clipped from The Daily Item". May 20, 2010. pp. C1 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Bucknell Sweeps Raiders To Win PL Tournament Title". Colgate University Athletics. May 15, 2010.
  6. ^ "Softball History vs Bucknell University". California Golden Bears Athletics.
  7. ^ "SB: Ohio State Downs Bucknell, 6-0". Ohio State.
  8. ^ "Article clipped from The Daily Item". July 1, 1993. p. 26 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Article clipped from The Boston Globe". May 1, 1999. p. 84 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Article clipped from York Daily Record". May 1, 2005. p. 39 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "2013 Bucknell Softball Media Guide by Bucknell University - Issuu". issuu.com. February 15, 2013.
  12. ^ Democrat, Christine Lee | Hunterdon County (May 13, 2015). "Readington softball player is Patriot League's Player of the Year". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Terrie Grieb - Hall of Fame". Bucknell University Athletics.
  14. ^ Vernon, Brady. "Sarah Caffrey Brings Youth, Energy To Bucknell". www.softballamerica.com.
  15. ^ "Sarah Caffrey named Bucknell head coach". August 21, 2020.
  16. ^ "2024 Softball Roster". Bucknell University Athletics.
  17. ^ "Softball Record Book" (PDF). Bucknell University Athletics.