Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy *
Bison Split Twinbill With Navy and End the Weekend 6-2 in the Patriot League
4/6/2003 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 6, 2003
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Bucknell baseball (14-6, 6-2 Patriot League) improved its first-place standing in the Patriot League after splitting a doubleheader with Navy (10-15, 4-4) on Sunday at Max Bishop Stadium. In the first showing, the Bison dropped a 2-1 decision despite a complete-game one-hitter by Zach Allen, giving the Mids their first only of the four-game series. The Herd captured game two with a 2-0 victory, with Kevin Burns and Phil Futrick combining on a six-hit shutout.
In the first match-up on Sunday, the Midshipmen took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, when Dean Farmer was hit by a pitch and later scored after two Bison errors. The Mids grabbed the game-winning run in the fourth inning, when Brad Hager walked and also scored on a BU error.
In the sixth inning Brian Hirschberg belted a home run to center field for Bucknell's only run of the game. The Bison out-hit the Mids, 3-1. Ben Stoll doubled to left field in the third and catcher Phil Bunting singled to center field in the fifth. Pete Curnow's two-out single in the bottom of the fifth was Navy's only hit of the contest.
Allen allowed two unearned runs on only one hit. He is the fourth pitcher in Bucknell history to throw a one-hitter. Allen tallied four strike-outs and walked two.
Single runs in the second and third were all the Bison needed in support of Burns in game two. Bucknell began the rally in the second inning when Ben Krentzman struck out but reached first on a wild pitch. Krentzman later advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Austin Barrett. Kyle Walter received the RBI after hitting a single into left field plating Krentzman give the Bison a 1-0 lead. Navy ended the inning with a 5-3 double play.
In the top of the third, Stoll singled to left field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Moss. Moss now holds the school record for sacrifice bunts (10) in a season. Brian Day singled through the left side to place Stoll in scoring position, and Hirschberg followed with an RBI single, scoring Stoll. The Midshipmen closed the third inning with another double play.
Burns pitched six plus innings for the Bison, allowing six hits while striking out three. After Navy's Damon Faldowski singled to lead off the seventh, Futrick came on and retired the next three Mids to record his sixth save, which is just one shy of the Bucknell single-season record.
Stoll went 2-for-3 and walked once, while Barrett was 2-for-2 in the nightcap.
In conclusion to this weekend, the Bison have won eight of the last 10 games against Navy. Throughout this weekend's four-game series, Bucknell's pitching staff compiled an impressive 0.93 ERA.
The Bison are scheduled to play St. Bonaventure in Olean, N.Y., on Tuesday, April 8. Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m.
