Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Portland St
Baseball Team Has its Four-Game Winning Streak Snapped in Fresno
3/13/2001 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 13, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. -- Bucknell's baseball team had its four-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday afternoon, dropping an 8-2 decision to the University of Portland in the Pepsi-Johnny Quik Classic at Fresno State University.
Junior righthander Ross Aron (Westport, Conn./Kent School) started the game for the Bison (6-3) and worked six strong innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits.
In the top of the seventh the Bison took a 2-1 lead, plating a pair of unearned runs. With the bases loaded and one out, senior centerfielder Ian Joseph (Novelty, Ohio/West Geauga) hit a smash back to the pitcher. He promptly threw home for the force but the catchers throw to first hit Joseph as he was running down the line and trickled out into right field. Co-Captain Chris Herron (Vienna, Va./Bishop O'Connell) crossed the plate to tie the game at 1-1. Brad Gething (Pittsburgh, Pa/Plum) then gave the Orange and Blue the lead with a single, scoring Eric Fishman (Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton) who had reached with a pinch-hit single earlier in the frame.
The lead didn't stand up against the Pilots (8-9) though. In their half of the seventh they plated six runs, five of which were unearned, to take control of the game. A routine ground ball to short off the bat of the leadoff batter bounced off Matt Draper's (Allison Park, Pa./Shady Side Academy) glove, opening the door for the big inning. After Portland took a 4-2 lead in the inning, Pilot third baseman Travis Hanson blasted a three-run home run over the centerfield fence to push the lead to 7-2. Matt Allen added a solo shot in the eighth to give the Pilots their final run.
Sophomore Kevin Burns (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Prep) came on to start the seventh and took the hard-luck loss for the Bison. Senior catcher Pat Cann (Mill Valley, Calif./Marin Catholic) was the only Bucknell player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 at the plate.
Bucknell will continue its play at the Pepsi-Johnny Quik Classic with a 10:00 a.m. (PT) contest against Illinois tomorrow morning.
