Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Rhode Island
Bison Offense Erupts in 8-4 Victory Over Rhode Island
3/11/2003 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 11, 2003
BRADENTON, Fla. - After scoring four runs in each of their first two games, Bucknell built an eight-run lead over Rhode Island before claiming an 8-4 victory Tuesday afternoon at IMG Academy Park. Senior co-captain Zack Allen hurled six shutout innings and four different Bison stroked two hits as Bucknell improved to 2-1 on the season.
Allen had a two-run lead before even stepping on the mound in the bottom half of the first. In the top of the first, Brian Day's double drove home Ben Krentzman, then Day beat the throw home to score on Brian Hirschberg's base hit.
Bucknell's 3-4-5 hitters would team up again in the third and push the Bison lead to 5-0. This time Krentzman doubled and raced home on Day's single to left. Hirschberg followed with his second base hit of the afternoon before Kyle Walter knocked in Day with a base hit. Hirschberg raced home with the third run of the inning on a Rhode Island throwing error.
Two more runs in the fifth and another in the sixth extended the Bison lead to 8-0. In the fifth, Hirschberg reached on an error and scored on Austin Barrett's double. Steve Stutzman followed with a base hit to knock in Barrett.
Allen scattered five hits and struck out four in holding the Rams scoreless through six innings of work. Rhode Island would push across one run in the seventh and three in the ninth before freshman Phil Futrick got Rhode Island's D.J. Burns to pop out to short to earn a save in his first collegiate appearance.
Hirschberg's three hits led Bucknell, while Barrett, Krentzman, and Day collected two hits apiece.
The Bison next face off against Yale at 3:00 pm Wednesday at IMG Academy Park in Bradenton.
