Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
NCAA Regionals - Stetson
Bucknell Baseball Team Eliminated From NCAA Regionals
5/26/2001 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 26, 2001
CORAL GABLES, FLA. - Stetson junior right-hander Brian Sullivan tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout to knock Bucknell from the 2001 NCAA Regionals this afternoon at Miami's Mark Light Stadium. Sullivan scattered just four hits and struck out four en route to his sixth win of the season and his first complete-game shutout.
The Hatters, 10-9 losers to Florida in their regional opener on Friday, broke on top with a run in the bottom of the first off Bison starter Chris Lackett (Wall Township, N.J./Wall). Junior right fielder Jeff Christy doubled to the gap in left center to lead off the frame, and scored one out later on a single up the middle by left fielder Frank Corr.
The Bison hit the ball hard in each of the first two innings, but a pair of line-out double plays eliminated any scoring threats. Senior third baseman John DiBonaventura (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) lined into one at short in the first, and senior Mike Ritz (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional) lined into the second on a nice leaping grab by Stetson second baseman Andy Wilson in the second.
Stetson padded its lead in the second with three hits. Wilson led off with a double and scored one out later on a two-run home run over the fence in left center by shortstop Rusty Beale.
The Hatters continued their offensive onslaught with three more runs in the third, stretching the lead to 6-0. After first baseman Brian Zenchyk led off with a single, third baseman Brian Snyder connected for his seventh home run of the season, clearing the fence down the line in right. Vinnie Rinaldi rekindled the rally with a single to left and moved to second when left fielder Eric Fishman (Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton) bobbled the ball for an error. After a sacrifice bunt, Rinaldi scored on a sac fly to left by Beale. Fishman robbed Beale of his second home run by pulling the ball back over the fence for the out.
Stetson put runners on second and third with two outs in the fourth to chase Lackett from the game. Sophomore Zach Allen (Port Royal, Pa./Juniata) entered the game and after hitting Rinaldi to load the bases got Wilson to fly to right to end the inning.
Allen allowed just one unearned run the rest of the way, shutting down the Hatters. He worked four and a third innings, surrendered just three hits, and struck out three.
Meanwhile, Sullivan cruised along and allowed just two hits that cleared the infield - a double down the line in left by Larry Scheetz (Newtown, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) and a single thru the left side by DiBonaventura. The Bison mounted their final offensive opportunity in the ninth, putting runners on the corners with one out, but a ground ball double play shut the door and ended the season for Bucknell.
Scheetz led Bucknell at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance. The Bison finished the season at 31-19, tying the school record for wins in a single-season.
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