Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Army
Bison Baseball Loses Twice to Army
4/20/2002 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 20, 2002
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Bucknell dropped a pair of Patriot League games to host Army Saturday afternoon at Doubleday Field, losing by scores of 7-3 in the opener and 5-2 in the nightcap.
The Bison (14-28, 5-9 Patriot) lost for the eighth time in their last nine outings, while Army (11-20, 5-9 Patriot) won for just the third time in its last 10 games.
Army pounded out 14 hits in the opener to support a solid complete game pitching performance by Brian Elliott (3-4). Elliott went the distance, allowing eight hits and three runs. The Black Knights spotted Elliott with four runs in the first three innings as Army forged a 4-0 lead. Army plated a pair of runs off Bucknell starter Zach Allen (3-5) in the bottom of the first, and scored one run in the second and third innings.
The Bison bats caught fire in the top of the fourth, when B.J. Batterson and Jon Campagna blasted their first career home runs. With one out, Batterson drilled a line drive over the left field fence to cut the gap to 4-1. After a Ben Krentzman single, Campagna lifted a 2-2 pitch to the opposite field and over the right field fence to bring the Bison to within 4-3.
Army continued to pester Allen in the bottom of the frame, scoring two runs on four hits and one error and forcing Bucknell to replace Allen with R.J. Grant. In three and two-third innings pitched, Allen surrendered six runs on 12 hits and three errors and was handed the loss. Grant gave up one run on two hits and two walks in two and one-third innings.
Elliot settled in after the fourth and shut out the Bison over the final three innings for his third complete game of the season.
Miguel Gastellum and Schuyler Williamson each went 3-for-4 to lead the Army offense. Krentzman and Ben Stoll each ripped two hits for Bucknell.
Army used a four-run, six-hit fourth to defeat Bucknell in the nightcap. Sean Magee (3-3) started and went the distance for Bucknell, but was charged with the loss. Magee allowed five runs on 10 hits and two walks. He struck out four.
Army pitchers Dan Cappello and Josh Birenbaum combined to limit Bucknell to just three hits and two runs.
Cappello (2-3) sailed through the first five innings of the second game and retired 15 of the first 18 batters he faced. By that time, Army had built a 5-0 lead.
The Bison mounted their only serious threat in the sixth when Stoll drew a leadoff walk and scored on Krentzman's double to deep center field. Krentzman moved to third on a wild pitch as Cappello struggled to find the plate. After Batterson walked and Austin Barrett was hit by a pitch, Birenbaum was summoned from the bullpen to face Eric Fishman, who represented the tying run.
Birenbaum induced Fishman to ground sharply to Scott Komaromy at first base. Komaromy fired to second base to record the force out and Barrett was called for runner's interference on the play to retire the side. Birenbaum registered the final three outs after allowing a leadoff single to Campagna in the seventh to notch his first collegiate save.
Gastellum, Brandon Boyce and Michael Cooper registered two hits apiece to lead Army's 10-hit attack in the nightcap. Scheetz, Krentzman and Campagna stroked Bucknell's only hits of the game.
The Black Knights and Bison conclude their four-game series on Sunday at Doubleday Field beginning at 1 p.m.
