Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross *
Bison Baseball Wins 5-4 and 3-2 Nailbiters over Holy Cross
3/29/2003 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 29, 2003
WORCESTER, Mass. - The Bucknell baseball squad captured its first two Patriot League games of the season, 5-4 and 3-2 over Holy Cross Saturday. The Bison trailed 4-2 in the top of the seventh in game one, but Brian Day's RBI single capped a three-run, last-at-bat rally. In game two, the Bison held the lead after grabbing two runs in the fourth frame.
In game one against the Crusaders (2-10, 0-2), the Orange and Blue (10-5, 2-0) began the first inning when junior shortstop Ben Stoll walked. Stoll advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt driven by Sam Moss. Day singled to left field, plating Stoll for a 1-0 lead.
Holy Cross tied it with a run in the second inning, while the Bison fought back in the third inning to grab a 2-1 lead. Day singled up the middle, and Brian Hirschberg tripled to right center to allow Day to score. Holy Cross regained the lead on Drew Bigda's three-run homer off Kevin Miller (3-0) in the bottom of the sixth.
The Bison rallied in the top of the seventh, when catcher Phil Bunting walked and advanced to second on a balk by Holy Cross' D.J. Lucey. Pinch hitter Austin Barrett then doubled to right field, scoring Bunting to bring the Bison within a run at 4-3. After Chris Grandizio pinch ran for Barrett, Moss greeted Crusader reliver Dan Powers with a game-tying triple to right field. Day then singled to left field, delivering Moss with the go-ahead run.
Miller earned his third win of the season, allowing four runs on six hits through 6.0 innings. Rookie closer Phil Futrick worked out of a first-and-second jam in the seventh and received his third save of the season.
Day finished 3-for-4 at the plate, while Moss added two hits. Joe McCabe went 3-for-4 for Holy Cross.
In game two, Bucknell plated two runs in the top of the fourth to break open a scoreless pitcher's duel between R.J. Grant and John Dibble. After Day singled, Hirschberg crushed a two-run homer over the right field wall. It was Hirschberg's third round-tripper of the season.
The Crusaders were unable to score until the bottom of the sixth inning against Grant, clawing within a run on an RBI single by Jimmy McCloud.
In the top of the seventh, the Herd added an insurance run when lead-off hitter Kyle Walter singled to left field, advanced to second on Bunting's sacrifice and scored one out later on when Stoll capped a 4-for-4 game with a triple.
The Crusaders rallied in the bottom of the seventh, moving within 3-2 on Mike Marron's run-scoring single against reliever Matt Daley. With runners at first and second and still no outs, Daley induced Tucker Frawley into a 4-6-3 double play, then retired McCabe on a foul out to first base to end the contest.
Grant earned the victory for the Bison, giving up two runs on five hits. He also struck out five batters. Daley earned his first save of the year.
The Bison are scheduled to play another doubleheader against Holy Cross on Sunday. The opener is slated to begin at noon.
