LEWISBURG, Pa. – Taylor Parsons (Bellefonte, Pa./Bald Eagle) and Lindsey Reid (Bear, Del./Caravel Academy) each had multi-hit games, but the Saint Francis softball team lost at Bucknell on Wednesday, 5-3 and 6-1.
 
The Red Flash (17-7) got off to a fast start in game one, putting up three runs in the top of the second inning to break the scoreless tie. The first three Red Flash hitters in the inning reached base. Madison Cabell (Ivor, Va./Southampton) led off with a walk and Jordan Seneca (New Kensington, Pa./Plum) followed with a bunt single. Aly Ramsaier (Mesa, Ariz./Mountain View) successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt, but a fielding error on the Bison allowed Cabell to come around to make it 1-0.
 
Kelsie Marconi (Lowber, Pa./Yough) pinch ran for Ramsaier and sprinted home on a double steal to make it 2-0. Parsons followed that play with a triple to chase home Reid to push the lead to 3-0. Reid reached via a fielder's choice in the previous at-bat.
 
Ethel Santai (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove Area) and Blaire Lauthers (Doylesburg, Pa./Fannett-Metal) combined to allow just one earned run, but the Flash committed four errors to allow Bucknell back into the game. Bucknell (18-10) nibbled an unearned run off Santai in the third and fourth innings. After a leadoff walk in the fifth. Lauthers entered the circle. A single scored that leadoff runner to close the book on Santai while representing the lone earned run against the Flash staff in game one. An error later in the frame gave Bucknell a 4-3 lead. The Bison added another unearned run in the sixth to make it 5-3.
 
The Flash threatened in the seventh. Parsons led off with a single, and Alexis Bower (Cogan Station, Pa./Williamsport Area) singled after one out to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. The runners moved into scoring position after two outs, but the Flash couldn't push the runs across.
 
In game two, Reid's third-inning solo home run down the left field line tied the game at 1-1. She finished 2-for-2 from the plate in game two. The score stayed that way until the fourth inning. Back-to-back doubles for Bucknell off Bower made it 3-1 Bison.
 
Bower pitched five innings and struck out four while allowing just three earned runs. Ketarah DeVries (Forreston, Ill./Forreston) came in to strike out two hitters in her one inning of relief work.
 
The Flash is scheduled to open NEC play with its home opener on Sunday against Sacred Heart. The doubleheader is set for a noon start.