Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Arkansas (NCAA Regionals)
Bison Eliminated From NCAA Baseball Regionals By Arkansas, 10-7
5/31/2003 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 31, 2003
AUSTIN, Texas - Despite nearly overcoming a six-run deficit in the late innings, the Bucknell baseball team saw its 2003 season come to an end with a 10-7 loss to Arkansas in an elimination game at the NCAA Regionals at Disch-Falk Field at the University of Texas.
Trailing 8-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Bison (27-16) exploded for five runs to pull within 8-7, but Ryan Fox hit a clutch two-out, two-run double in the top of the ninth to provide Arkansas (35-21) with some momentum-changing insurance. Jay Sawatski retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth for his third save.
Bucknell, which fell 7-0 to defending national champion Texas in the regional opener on Friday evening, was appearing in its third national tournament. The Bison fell to 0-6 all-time in NCAA play, despite scoring their most runs and playing to their closest margin of victory against the Razorbacks.
The Bison took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, scoring their first run of the tournament on Ben Stoll's two-out, RBI single.
Arkansas answered with three runs in the third, two coming on a costly error by second baseman Sam Moss. Haas Pratt's sharp single off the glove of Stoll at shortstop plated Kirk McConnell with the tying run, but with the bases loaded and one out, Bison starter Zach Allen (6-3) appeared to make a pitch to get out the inning. Chris Williams slapped a tailor-made double play ball to second, but Moss' flip to the bag sailed into left field, allowing two runs to score.
Bucknell closed within 3-2 in the third on Brian Hirschberg's towering home run to straight away center field. He became only the 26th player to clear the 20-foot high center field wall since Disch-Falk Field opened in 1975.
An errant pickoff attempt by Allen allowed Scott Bridges to move from first to third with nobody out in the fourth, leading to an Arkansas run and a 4-2 Razorback lead. Williams and Fox led off the sixth with consecutive hits, chasing Allen. With Matt Daley on in relief, catcher Phil Bunting made a head's-up play pouncing on a would-be passed ball near the third-base on-deck circle and nabbing Williams at the plate. Scott Bridges followed with a bloop double to left to make it a 5-2 contest.
The Razorbacks seemingly put the game out of reach with a three-run, eighth-inning rally. After an error and a walk with one out, Daley, who had not been scored upon since March 13, surrendered a two-run double to Scott Hode and an RBI single to Nick Pitts.
Down to its final six outs, Bucknell sprang back with a stunning five-run rally in the bottom of the eighth. With one out Kyle Walter singled and scored on Ben Krentzman's double one batter later. Brian Day followed with a sharp single, putting runners at the corners, and Bunting cleared the bases with a booming triple to the gap in left-center, making it an 8-5 game. After B.J. Batterson popped out in the infield, Stoll came through with a key two-out single, scoring Bunting to make it 8-6.
The inning should have ended when Arkansas reliever Boyd Goodner picked Stoll off first, but the Bison leadoff man dodged a tag from Hode and was ruled safe at second. One batter later, Pete Wolf came through with another two-out hit to make it an 8-7 game. Hirschberg, the 10th man to bat in the inning, struck out to end the rally.
R.J. Grant walked Andrew Wishy leading off the top of the ninth and Pratt followed with a single off Patriot League Rookie of the Year Phil Futrick. After a sac bunt and a pop fly, Fox doubled into the right-center alley to plate the crucial insurance runs.
"We are very disappointed with the loss because we worked very hard, and this ends a very enjoyable season for all of us," said Bucknell head coach Gene Depew, who also led the Bison to the NCAA Tournament in 1996 and 2001. "We made a nice run at it in the eighth and had a lot of positive momentum. That's the way baseball is played. A few good things that happen can be contagious."
Stoll finished 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs for the Bison, while Bunting added two hits. Pratt was 3-for-5 for the Razorbacks.
"Both teams played like they did not want to go home," said Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn. "Give Bucknell credit, every time we gave them a break they responded. I was happy with the way we bounced back and pushed across a couple of big runs in the ninth."
Allen worked five innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits. He struck out five but walked three and hit four batters. Arkansas starter Charley Boyce (6-5) worked 7.1 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits, striking out seven and walking three.
"This team has maintained a good attitude and focus all year long," said Depew. "You can never feel like it's over, on either side."
Arkansas moves on to play the loser of the Texas-Lamar winner's bracket game later on Saturday afternoon.
