Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Towson
Bucknell Baseball Blasts Towson, 12-5, for Seventh Win in a Row
4/12/2006 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 12, 2006
TOWSON, Md. - Sophomores Chris Pieper (Port Washington, N.Y./Schreiber) and Jason Buursma (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside School) belted two home runs apiece as the Bucknell baseball team rolled to a 12-5 win over Towson at Schuerholz Park on Wednesday afternoon. The Bison earned their seventh-straight victory and improve to 14-17 on the year, while the Tigers fall to 11-24.
Bucknell took a 1-0 lead in the first as senior Brad Duvall (Hampstead, Md./Hereford) drew a leadoff walk and scored on a sacrifice fly by Buursma, however, Towson evened the score in the bottom of the inning after Hans Falkenhan singled up the middle and later came home on an error.
Then in the third, the Bison jumped back out in front with a two-RBI single by sophomore Mark Angelo (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) that plated Pieper who reached with a leadoff single and Buursma who followed with a walk.
The Orange and Blue broke the game open with a five-run fourth. Pieper drove in the first two with his first collegiate home run, a two run shot to left that scored Duvall. Buursma followed with a blast to right center to increase the advantage to 6-1. Senior Chris Brannan (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) and junior Dustin Kapson (Sweet Valley, Pa./Lake Lehman) traded places with back-to-back doubles for Bucknell's fourth run of the inning. Angelo then brought in Kapson with a sacrifice fly for the final run in the frame.
The Tigers took two of the runs back in the bottom of the fourth and cut the deficit to 8-4 with another in the fifth. A.J. Tinnerella opened the fourth with a single to left center and Brian Conley followed with a double down the right field line. Tinnerella came home on an RBI groundout by Greg Furmanek and Kyle Skellchock drove in Conley with a sacrifice fly. Demetrios Nomikos singled to lead off the fifth and scored on a double by Matt Collins.
Buursma belted his second home run of the day to lead off the sixth and, in the eighth, the Bison stretched their lead to 12-4 as Pieper homered to left with one out, Buursma doubled to right center and scored on a double by sophomore Ed Rubbo (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge). The next batter, freshman Bret Sokirka (Wyoming, Pa./Wyoming Area) brought Rubbo in with a double to left center.
Towson managed one run in the eighth, but that would be all as the Bucknell pitching staff continued its effectiveness, allowing just one hit in the final four innings. Freshman Sean Driscoll (Colts Neck, N.J./Christian Brothers) improved to 3-0 in his collegiate career as he threw five innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Classmate Chris Yamaguchi (Lincroft, N.J./Middletown South) relieved him and pitched two hitless innings with one walk and no strikeouts. Sophomore Max Goldstein (Atlanta, Ga./Paideia School) worked the eighth and allowed one unearned run on no hits with one walk and no strikeouts. Buursma finished the game for the Bison and gave up one hit in the ninth with no walks and one strikeout. Rafe Bridges pitched three innings for Towson and took the loss (0-1). He allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits with six walks and two strikeouts.
Pieper led the offense for the Orange and Blue, going 4-for-6 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored. Buursma batted 3-for-4 with four runs scored and two RBI, while Angelo was 1-for-1 with three RBI.
Bucknell will look to extend its current winning streak when the team travels to Easton, Pa., on Friday, April 14, for a four-game series against Patriot League foe Lafayette, with Friday's doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
