Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Baseball's Buursma Honored as Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week
5/12/2008 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 12, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell baseball senior Jason Buursma (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside School) tabbed the Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week on Monday after playing a pivotal role in his squad's Patriot League semifinal series win over top-seeded Army this past weekend to advance to the league championship series at Navy. This marks the fourth career Bison Athlete of the Week award for Buursma, who was honored once earlier this season.
Buursma tossed seven scoreless innings of relief for the Orange and Blue, who handed Army its first ever PL tournament series loss at home, and picked up two wins as the pitcher of record in both of Bucknell's victories in the best-of-three series, which the Bison took two-games to one.
In his two appearances, Buursma allowed just one base runner, an infield single by Andy Ernesto in the ninth inning of game one, and totaled five strikeouts as the Black Knights hit just .045 against him.
He threw 3.2 shutout innings with two strikeouts in the series opener, helping the Bison post a 5-4 extra-inning victory in that contest. Then on Sunday in game three, Buursma followed up by retiring all 10 batters he faced and striking out three to combine with freshman Eric Jarrett (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore Area) for the 20th two-hit game in program history, a 1-0 win for the Orange and Blue.
Now at 7-3 on the season with a 2.87 ERA, Buursma is the first Bucknell pitcher to total seven victories in a season since Kevin Miller in 2001 and is just one win shy of matching the program's single season record. Buursma also moved into a tie for 10th in the school's record book for career wins as he currently holds a mark of 13-7.
Bucknell will vie for its fourth Patriot League title this Friday and Saturday, May 16-17, against Navy in Annapolis, Md. Game one between the No. 4-seeded Bison and the No. 2-seeded Midshipmen is slated to begin at 3 p.m. on Friday, while the teams will play game two on Saturday, beginning at noon, with the third contest schedule for 30 minutes following the conclusion of game two, if necessary.
