Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh *
Bison Baseball On A 3-1 Trend After Sweeping Lehigh On Sunday
4/13/2003 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2003
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - After splitting a pair with Lehigh on Saturday, Bucknell baseball came back to sweep the Mountain Hawks on Sunday, 1-0 and 6-3. The Bison have set a trend by bringing home a 3-1 record over the past three weekends of Patriot League play. First-place Orange and Blue hold a 17-8 overall record and are two games above second-place Navy with a 9-3 PL record.
The Bison were led by Zach Allen and Phil Futrick in the four-hit shut-out in game one. The Bison scored in the second inning, after Brian Hirschberg walked and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ben Krentzman. Pete Wolf received the RBI on a single and sent Hirschberg over the plate to score the only run of the entire game.
Allen pitched six innings, allowing only four hits. The senior pitcher struck out and walked four batters each. Futrick replaced Allen in the top of the seventh and struck out one Mountain Hawk. The freshman pitcher received his eighth save of the season and set a new school record in saves in a season. The school record was previously held by 2002 graduate, Gregg Farmery, who accomplished seven saves in 2001. Allen now holds a 4-2 record.
In game two, the Bison fought for their third win of the series and continue the 3-1 weekend tradition. Lehigh kicked it up a notch from game one and took the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Bucknell came to the plate at the top of the second and scored two runs. Krentzman, Kyle Walter and Phil Bunting were walked by Lehigh's pitcher, Kyle Stawicki. With bases loaded, Ben Stoll singled allowing both Krentzman and Walter to score and the Bison took the 2-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth frame, Bunting reached first on a fielder's choice. B.J. Batterson hit a RBI double sending Bunting over the plate to improve the Herd's 3-1 lead. On the mound, the Mountain Hawks then replaced Stawicki for Matt Nusinov. Stoll next hit a RBI double to score Batterson. Sam Moss singled for the Bison and Stoll scored Bucknell's fourth run of the game. Brian Day then singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by Lehigh's shortstop, and Moss advanced to third. Lehigh then replaced Nusinov for Kyle Collins. The Bison finished the fourth inning with three runs, five hits and two left on base.
Errors cost the Bison two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Lehigh's Andrew Smith was able to jump on first after reaching on a third strike and missing a wild pitch. Then Mike Sandonato reached first on a fielding error by Ben Stoll and Smith advanced on a throwing error by Stoll. Eric Hoffman singled and plated Smith, while Sandonato scored after tagging-up on a foul out caught by Day. The Bison were able to keep the lead, 5-3.
In the fifth inning, the Orange and Blue scored the game sealer. Pete Wolf walked and Chris Grandizio entered as designated runner for Wolf. After stealing second, Grandizio scored on Batterson's second RBI double of the game.
Kevin Burns pitched the first five innings for the Herd and gave up three runs on five hits. Matt Daley replaced Burns in the sixth inning and only allowed one hit. He struck out three Lehigh batters and walked one. Burns now owns a 4-1 record, while Daley racked up his third save of the season.
The Bison host Duquesne in Lewisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, April 16. The first pitch of the doubleheader will be thrown at 1 p.m. Bucknell will host its first Patriot League series of the season against Army on April 19-20.
