Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Eastern Kentucky
Bucknell Baseball Edged by Eastern Kentucky, 5-4
3/12/2007 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2007
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orange and Blue managed to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but could not score as Bucknell was edged by Eastern Kentucky, 5-4 at IMG Field on Monday afternoon. With the setback, the Bison fall to 3-6, while the Colonels improve to 7-6 on the year.
In the bottom of the first, Bucknell took a 1-0 lead after junior Ed Rubbo (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) singled and scored on an RBI double by classmate Jason Buursma (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside School). The Bison then brought the score to 2-0 in the second inning as junior Mark Angelo (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Dustin Kapson (Sweet Valley, Pa./Lake Lehman) and a single up the middle by junior Shawn Hirsch (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) plated him.
EKU cut its deficit in half in the top of the third. Tyler Barnett singled and later came home on a sacrifice fly by Lucas Waters.
The Orange and Blue struck back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to increase its advantage to 4-1. Angelo reached on an error and scored on a double-steal play and with two out, sophomore Bret Sokirka (Wyoming, Pa./Wyoming Area) brought in Hirsch, who reached base with his second single of the day.
However, the Colonels kept pace with the Bison by scoring twice in their next turn at bat. Aaron Barrows reached on a fielder's choice and came in on an RBI single by Waters for the first run of the inning. The next batter, Tony Wells drove in Shawn Flora, who had singed with two outs in the frame.
Then in the top of the seventh, Eastern Kentucky leveled the score at four. Barnett led off the inning with an infield hit and, with two away, Wells plated him with a single to center. The Colonels went on to take the lead at 5-4 in the eighth as Matt Davis knocked a leadoff single and scored on an RBI single by Dylan McMaine.
Bucknell made attempts to rally in both the eighth and the ninth but could not score, stranding five runners in the final two innings.
Senior Nathan Mittag (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield) started on the mound for the Bison but did not record the decision in the contest. In 6.1 innings of work, he allowed four runs, three earned, on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Buursma relieved him and took the loss (1-1) as he threw 2.2 innings and surrendered one unearned run on three hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Reliever Jim Clancy was credited with the win (1-0) for EKU after working 2.1 scoreless innings and giving up two hits with one walk and one strikeout. Eric Hash pitched the remaining two-thirds of an inning and earned the save (3) after allowing no runs and no hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Hirsch led the offense for the Orange and Blue, tallying three of the squad's seven hits in the contest as he went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Buursma batted 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, Sokirka registered an RBI, Angelo scored two runs and Rubbo one. For the Colonels, Wells went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Barnett hit 2-for-4 and scored twice.
Bucknell will be back in action tomorrow, March 13, in Bradenton Fla., as the Bison will take on Fairfield in a 1 p.m. contest.
