Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
VMI
Bison Baseball Team Opens 2001 Season With Doubleheader Sweep at VMI
2/17/2001 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2001
Lexington, Va. -- Bucknell (2-0) began the 2001 season by sweeping the Virginia Military Academy in a doubleheader played at a chilly Patchin Field on Saturday afternoon. The Bison took the first game by a 13-10 count and won the nightcap, 9-6.
In the first game, Bucknell got out to the early lead by scoring five runs in the top of the first inning on only four hits. The Keydets retaliated in the bottom of the second inning when freshman center fielder Zach Kennedy (Richmond, Va./ Douglas Freeman) smacked his first career grand slam to left field, closing the gap to 7-4. However, the Bison came back with three runs in the third inning and two in the fifth to build a 12-5 lead and hold on to the three-run victory.
Junior pitcher Chris Lackett (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) picked up the win for Bucknell, giving up eight runs in five innings. Keydet freshman Allen Kent picked up the loss in his first career start. Offensively, Bucknell was led by senior third baseman John DiBonaventura (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two doubles, and senior outfielder Kevin Eiben (Delta, British Columbia/Vancouver College), who was 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. VMI's senior second baseman Jon Schott was 2-for-3 in the first game with two RBI and a double.
In game two, Bucknell's senior designated hitter Brad Gething (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning, by smacking a solo home run to left field, leading to a three-run Bucknell inning. The Bison extended their lead to 6-0 in the fifth inning, when senior first baseman Russ Lindberg (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/ St. Peter) hit a three-run homer. Bucknell scored three more runs in the sixth in inning to build the lead to 9-0.
VMI responded by scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The rally was sparked by a three-run double, hit by senior first baseman Chris Catanzaro. He took over second place on VMI's all-time hits in the second game by going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Lindberg led the Bison, going 3-for-3 with four RBI and the home run, while Eiben went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Bucknell's junior pitcher Ross Aron (Westport, Conn./Kent School) picked up the win, giving up only two hits and two runs in 5.2 innings. Keydet junior pitcher Willie Lyles took the loss, giving up on three runs in four innings.
The same teams will meet on Sunday afternoon for the series finale at Patchin Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00
BUCKNELL 13, VMI 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Buck. 5 2 3 2 0 1 0 13 9 1 VMI 0 4 1 0 3 1 1 10 10 5Batteries: Bucknell: Lackett, Myers (6), Farmery (6) and Gething), VMI: Kent, Riley (2), Lawson (4), Elliott (5), Owens (5), Hendrix (6) and Barden. WP: Chris Lackett (1-0) LP: Allen Kent (0-1) HR: Bucknell: Kevin Eiben (third inning, two on), VMI: Zach Kennedy (second inning, three on).
BUCKNELL 9, VMI 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Buck. 0 0 3 0 3 3 0 9 9 1 VMI 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 6 7 1Batteries: Bucknell: Aron, Magee (6), Miller (6) and Cann., VMI: Lyles, Sloan (5), Lawson (6), Hendrix (7) and Barden. WP: Ross Aron (1-0)q LP: Willie Lyles (1-1) HR: Bucknell: Brad Gething (second inning, none on), Russ Lindberg (fifth inning, two on).
