Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Bloomsburg
Day's Pinch-Hit Grand Slam Caps Bison Baseball's Sweep Over Bloomsburg
3/23/2002 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 23, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Freshman Brian Day smacked a two-out, pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the sixth, and Bucknell defeated Bloomsburg 7-6 to come away with a sweep in a non-league baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Bucknell Field.
In game one, the Bison broke open a 5-5 deadlock with a seven-run fourth, and held on for a 13-6 victory.
Bucknell (8-12) improved to 6-0 at home this season with the wins, while Bloomsburg dropped to 14-7.
With the Bison trailing 6-3, Day stepped to the plate to hit for centerfielder Chris Cipolloni after Bloomsburg replaced starting pitcher Jim Coombe with reliever Mike Robertson. Day went after the first pitch and drilled a towering fly ball over the centerfield fence for his first career home run.
Senior Gregg Farmery came on to pitch for the Bison in the top of the seventh, and retired the Huskies in order for his third save of the season. He also extended his scoreless inning streak to 20 and two-thirds, dating back to last season. He is now just one and one-third innings shy of the Bucknell record of 22 set by Warren Bumpus in 1975.
Junior Kevin Burns (1-2) worked six innings and came away with his first win of the season. Burns surrendered five hits and two walks, and just three of his six runs allowed were earned. He also struck out four. Robertson took the loss for the Huskies to fall to 2-1.
Bloomsburg took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when third baseman Brian Zorger smashed his first home run of the season. The Bison cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning when an RBI-single by freshman Austin Barrett scored sophomore Pete Wolf from second.
The Huskies scratched out a run in the third to make it 3-1. Shortstop Chris Husted, Bloomsburg's No. 9 hitter, led off with a walk and scored two batters later on a groundout after a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch.
Bloomsburg took advantage of four Bucknell errors in the top of the fifth and plated three runs on just one hit, and the Huskies' lead bulged to 6-1.
Coombe was impressive early on, as he allowed just four hits and two runs in the first five innings. Bucknell crept to within 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth after junior Ben Krentzman scored on a groundout by sophomore Chris Mahony. Krentzman led off the inning with a double into the right-center gap.
Coombe was one out away from throwing a scoreless sixth before running into trouble. Senior Eric Fishman reached on an error to lead off the inning, but was picked off first by Coombe. Wolf followed up with a walk, and reached second after sophomore Steve Stutzman grounded out to third. After senior Larry Scheetz was hit with a pitch, Barrett drove in Wolf with a single down the rightfield line. Coombe hit Krentzman to load the bases, setting up Day's game-winning homer.
Fishman saw his hitting steak end at 14 after going 0-for-3 in the nightcap.
Bloomsburg also took an early 2-0 lead on a home run in the opener. Mark Reiter led off the game with a walk, and Sperling followed by drilling a line-drive home run to right off Bucknell starter Zach Allen.
The Bison drew even with a two-run first. With one out, sophomore Sam Moss, Fishman and Wolf singled to load the bases. Junior B.J. Batterson brought home Moss when he reached on a fielder's choice. He also allowed Fishman to steal home on the next play by getting caught in a rundown between first and second.
The Huskies scored a pair of runs in the top of the second on three hits, one error and a balk to go up 4-2. But the Bison went back on top in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and no one on base, Bucknell scored three runs on three hits, one walk and an error to take a 5-4 edge.
Bloomsburg tied things up at 5-5 in the top of the third on an RBI-single by second baseman Larry Piccini before Bucknell's outburst in the fourth. The Bison sent seven runners to the plate before Bloomsburg recorded its first out on a sacrifice fly from Scheetz, and by that time BU had built a 9-5 lead. Freshman Phil Bunting led off the frame with a single to left, and scored the go-ahead run two batters later when Mahony reached on an error. Krentzman, Mahony, Moss, Fishman, Wolf and Batterson would all score as Bucknell sent 13 hitters to plate for the inning.
Each team scored once over the final three innings to set the final score.
Allen earned the victory for Bucknell and improved to 2-3 on the season. He allowed seven hits, six runs (four earned) and four walks to go with two strikeouts in six innings. Senior Blane Sharpless retired all three batters he faced in the seventh.
Senior Matt Bennecoff took the loss for Bloomsburg and dropped to 2-1. Bennecoff for nine runs (five earned) on 10 hits. He walked one and struck out two.
Five different players recorded multiple-hit performances for Bucknell. Moss finished 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, and Fishman went 3-for-4 with two runs. Wolf, Day and Bunting chipped in with two hits apiece in the opener.
Bucknell's 13 runs and 14 hits in game one were season-highs.
The two teams will meet for another doubleheader tomorrow at Bloomsburg starting at noon.
