Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy *
Daley and Miller Throw Complete Games in Doubleheader Sweep of Navy
3/27/2004 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 27, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell baseball team started the Patriot League season very auspiciously on Saturday afternoon, using superb complete-game pitching efforts from seniors Matt Daley and Kevin Miller to sweep a doubleheader from Navy (6-18, 0-2 PL) by scores of 2-1 in the opener and 5-1 in the second game.
In game one, Daley (5-0) had is shutout string end at 20 innings, but is still on a 22-inning streak without allowing an earned run. His Navy counterpart, Andy Froistad (0-2), required no relief help while almost matching Daley's efforts, but fell victim to Navy's defensive mistakes in the 2-1 defeat.
Ben Stoll had two of just three hits and both RBI for the Bison (11-6, 2-0 PL) in game one, while Phil Bunting supplied the other. Bucknell broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning. Bunting reached and advanced to second on a throwing error by Navy third baseman Matt Lukevicz, putting Chris Mahony on third. Stoll then brought both home on a single through the left side, staking the Bison to a 2-0 lead.
Navy halved the lead in its next at-bat. Catcher Doug Silverman started off the inning with a single and advanced to second when Daley threw beyond the reach of first baseman Brian Day on a pickoff attempt. Centerfielder Craig Candeto singled down the left field line, bringing home Silverman. Daley struck out Navy first baseman Ryan McGinn to end the threat.
In game two, the Bison gave Miller a run each in the first two innings, providing the senior with all he would need to even his record at 2-2 on the season. Pete Wolf had a game-high three hits, while Brian Hirschberg and Day each had two. Day also had two of Bucknell's four RBI. Wolf started his three-for-four performance in the second game by bringing home Stoll in the Bucknell first. The following inning, third baseman Steve Stutzman stole home as part of a double steal with Stoll from first, raising Bucknell's lead to 2-0.
Though defensive miscues proved more costly for Navy, Bucknell's errors had an impact as well. In Navy's fifth, Ryan McGinn reached on a dropped pop-up to Day at first and was brought home three batters later on a single by right fielder Dean Farmer to bring Navy to within 2-1. But Miller got Candeto, the next batter, to ground into a double play, holding Navy to one run in the inning. While throwing all nine innings, Miller fanned 10 Midshipmen and scattered five hits.
Bucknell added three insurance runs in the seventh, bouncing Navy starter Ryan Hefner (2-4) from the game after what had been another pitchers' duel to that point. Hefner threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and four runs, though just one was earned. Ryan Heykens threw the last 1 1/3 for Navy, giving up three hits and one unearned run. Day brought home Kyle Walter and Sam Moss with a double to give Bucknell a 4-1 lead, and Hirschberg singled home Day with the Bison's last run of the afternoon.
Bucknell and Navy will conclude the series tomorrow with another doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
Game 1 Navy 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 -- 1 3 2 Bucknell 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 -- 2 3 2Daley and Bunting; Froistad and Silverman.
WP - Daley (5-0). LP - Froistad (0-2). RBI - N: Candeto, B: Stoll 2. 2B - B: Stoll.Team Records: Navy 6-17, 0-1 PL. Bucknell 10-6, 1-0 PL.
Game 2 Navy 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 -- 1 5 3 Bucknell 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 -- 5 12 2
Miller and Bunting; Hefner, Heykens (7) and Johnston, Silverman (7).
WP - Miller (2-2). LP - Hefner (2-4). RBI - N: Farmer, B: Wolf, Day 2, Hirschberg. 2B - B: Day.Team Records: Navy 6-18, 0-2 PL. Bucknell 11-6, 2-0 PL.
