The softball team turned in two spectacular performances in its home opener last night -- one a display of pitching prowess, the other a show of gutsy baserunning and clutch hitting.

In game one, Leigh Bakun allowed only one hit and struck out seven Bucknell Bison on the way to a 13-0 slaughter. Bakun had a no-hitter alive until one out in the last inning, when Bison Wendi Fitz singled over first baseman Misty Hackett to end her bid. Bakun, although dissappointed, was pleased with her overall pitching.

"I approach every game the same way," she said. "First I go for a perfect game, then a no-hitter, then one hit, two hits and finally a win. So I'm happy with the win."

In game two, Bucknell, behind the strong pitching of Heidi Dawson, led 2-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. Misty Hackett led off the inning for the Lions with a single. When Marisa Marucci singled one batter later, the Lady Lions had runners on first and second with only one out.

That's when Hackett, a freshman, made the gutsy baserunning decision that may have given the team the victory. She pulled a delayed steal, in which she took off for third as the catcher threw the ball back to the mound. Dawson, obviously baffled, turned toward second before firing late to third. After Marucci advanced to second, the Lady Lions had two runners in scoring position with one out.

"As soon as I got on second base I was thinking about it," Hackett said. "I saw that the catcher wasn't looking runners back to the base. I thought that in order for us to win or at least tie it up, we'd need a runner on third base, so I decided to go for it."

Cecili Swift then reached on an error, knocking in Hackett, but leaving the winning run at second. Rebecca Wisnoff then ripped a line drive over the third baseman, driving in Marucci, giving the team the win.

"I was so excited," Wisnoff said. "Our team really needed a boost --we needed two wins tonight. We showed we're never giving up, even in the bottom of the seventh."

Beth Reeves turned in a dandy performance on the mound in the nightcap. She came on in relief of starter Gypsy Gooding, and gave up only two hits and no earned runs in four-and-two-thirds innings.

"I felt pretty strong going in," Reeves said. "I was a little nervous, but I think that helped me keep my intensity up. I felt good"

Offensively, the Lady Lions unleashed a veritable barrage of base hits, including 10 in the 13-run first game onslaught. Stars included Wisnoff, who, in addition to driving in the game winner in game two, was 3-for-3 with three runs scored in the opener and Dana Burns, who went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBIs.