Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy *
Bucknell Baseball Sinks Midshipmen Twice, 4-1 and 3-2
4/5/2003 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 5, 2003
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Bucknell received masterful pitching performances from seniors Kevin Miller and R.J. Grant in a doubleheader sweep at Navy Saturday. With the 4-1 and 3-2 victories, the Bison moved into first place in the Patriot League with a 5-1 record.
Miller earned his fourth win of the season after giving up three hits and one run in the series-opening 4-1 victory over Navy (9-14, 3-3). In game two, Grant worked eight strong innings and freshman Phil Futrick earned his fifth save of the season after the Bison went ahead with two runs in the top of the ninth inning.
In the third inning of game one, B.J. Batterson walked and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ben Stoll. Sam Moss singled up the middle and plated Batterson for a 1-0 lead. Batterson started the second round of scoring in the sixth inning after advancing to first by a walk. Stoll then singled to left field. Moss reached on throwing error by Navy pitcher Matt Foster, allowing Batterson to reach third. With the bases loaded, Brian Day reached first on an error by Navy's shortstop, plating Batterson with his second run of the day. Brian Hirschberg hit a sacrifice fly into center field allowing Stoll to score, staking Miller to a 3-0 cushion.
The Bison scored their fourth run in the sixth inning when Kyle Walter singled to center field, scoring one out later on Batterson's double into left center.
The Midshipmen ruined Miller's shutout bid in the bottom of the seventh, when Matt Lukevics tripled and scored on a single by Rusty Hearn.
Miller pitched his second complete game this season. He allowed only three hits and one earned run. Miller struck out seven Midshipmen while walking only one. Batterson reached base three times with the RBI double and two walks. Moss was 2-for-2 and tallied one walk.
After the victory in game one, the Bison looked to sweep the Midshipmen in the first day of a four-game series. Bucknell fell behind Navy in the bottom of the second on a bases-loaded infield hit by Doug Silverman, but Grant fanned the last two batters of the inning to prevent further damage.
Bucknell was held scoreless until the fourth, when Stoll singled on a bunt and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Moss. Day doubled down the left line and plated Stoll to tie the game at 1-apiece.
Still 1-1 into the bottom of the seventh, Silverman reached on an error to begin the inning, but Grant pounced on Justin Jackson's bunt and began a pretty 1-6-3 double play to squelch the threat. The game continued into extra innings and both teams were held scoreless until the top of the ninth. Austin Barrett began a two-out rally with a single to right center field. Chris Grandizio, pinch-running for Barrett, advanced to second on a single by Walter. After Grandizio and Walter executed a double steal, catcher Phil Bunting singled to right field -- his third hit of the game -- scoring both runners and giving the Bison a 3-1 lead.
Futrick came on for Grant in the bottom of the ninth and allowed a run on back-to-back doubles to Matt Lukevics and Rusty Hearn, but he struck out the next two hitters to leave the tying run stranded.
Bucknell will face Navy in the second doubleheader of the weekend on Sunday, April 6. The first pitch will be delivered at noon.
