Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Miami Ohio
Bucknell Baseball Team Wins Its Opener In the Pepsi-Johnny Quick Classic in Fresno, California
3/12/2001 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. -- Bucknell scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap off a come-from-behind victory over Miami-Ohio on Monday afternoon. It was Bucknell's first game in the Pepsi-Johnny Quick Classic being held at Fresno State University in Fresno, California this week.
Bucknell entered the seventh trailing 9-7 and, oddly enough, facing the clock. The game was originally scheduled to be a nine-inning contest, but tournament rules state that no inning can begin after 2:50 have elapsed. With one out in the frame junior Eric Fishman (Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton) singled to center. After a Red Hawk pitching change, senior Ian Joseph (Novelty, Ohio/West Geauga) drew a walk putting runners on first and second. Co-captain Brad Gething (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) stepped to the plate and capped off his 4-for-5 day with a two-run double to center, tying the game at 9-9. Suddenly the clock was now in Bucknell's favor and ticking against Miami-Ohio.
A passed ball moved Gething to third, and after the Red Hawks chose to intentially walk senior Kevin Eiben (Delta, British Columbia/Vancouver College) Miami pitcher Matt Allen hit John DiBonaventura (Parkland, Pa./Breinigsville) with a pitch to load the bases. Senior first baseman Russ Lindberg (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel) stepped to the plate and hit a shallow fly to center. Gething tagged and slid home just ahead of the throw with what proved to be the game-winning run. Mike Ritz (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional) added an RBI single and DiBonaventura scored on a wild pitch to complete the scoring for Bucknell.
Senior lefthander Kevin McDowell (Cheswick, Pa./Deer Lakes) pitched a scoreless seventh for the Bison to pick up the win. It was his first appearance on the mound since undergoing "Tommy John" surgery almost a year ago today. Gething had a home run, a double and five RBIs to pace the Bison offense, while Ritz went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs, and Joseph went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored.
The Bison (6-2) will play their second tournament game tomorrow morning against Portland at 10:00 a.m. (PST) The Pilots were 11-5 winners over Illinois on Monday.
