Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Toledo
Donato Hits for Cycle in Bucknell Baseball's 14-8 Win Over Toledo
3/11/2009 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 11, 2009
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Freshman Bob Donato became the third player in Bison history to hit for the cycle and Bucknell used a six-run fifth inning to break open a tie game as it defeated Toledo 14-8 Wednesday evening at Chain of Lakes Park. The Bison improved to 3-1 on their Spring Break trip to Florida with all three wins coming against teams from the Mid-American Conference.
Donato was the story of the game for Bucknell (3-8) as he was 4-for-5 with three runs scored and one run batted in. He joined Brian Hirschberg (2003) and Ted Aceto (1989) as the only players in program history to hit for the cycle. Donato had a double to left, a triple to left-center and a solo home run to left-center before he grounded a single up the middle in the sixth.
Bucknell totaled 14 hits in the contest with Donato, Drew Constable, Andrew Brouse and Dane Grandizio - the second through fifth hitters in the lineup - combining to go 11-for-18 with 11 runs scored and nine RBIs. Brouse was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a career-high five RBIs as he extended his hitting streak to five games. He blasted a two-run home run down the left field line, giving him a career-high four on the season. He now leads the team with 15 RBIs this season.
The score was tied 5-5 entering the bottom of the fifth. Donato hit his home run with one out as he started a string of five consecutive Bison to reach base. Drew Constable followed with a double and scored on Brouse's home run, one of seven extra base hits for Bucknell in the contest. An RBI single by Doug Shribman and a two-out, two-run triple by Hunter George rounded out the scoring in the frame as the Bison built a commanding 11-5 lead. The Bison sent 10 hitters to the plate in the inning.
Bucknell batted around again in the eighth when it extended an 11-8 lead to the final 14-8 margin. RBI singles by Brouse and Grandizio as well as a wild pitch accounted for the three runs.
The Bison used four pitchers in the game with starter Sean Driscoll earning his first win of the year. After yielding four first-inning runs, three of which were unearned thanks to a pair of errors, Driscoll limited the Rockets to just one run over his final four innings of work. He did work out of a number of jams as he retired the side in order just once.
Daniel Hart relieved Driscoll in the sixth and walked two of the first three hitters he faced and the other singled, loading the bases with none out. He proceeded to get a pair of run-scoring ground outs, but after his third walk of the inning, freshman Ryan Ebner replaced him. Ebner, who is a member of the Bison men's basketball team, got the first batter to fly out to right to end the inning. He proceeded to pitch a very effective 2.1 innings and allowed just one hit during his first career stint on the mound.
After Toledo scored four runs in the top of the first, Bucknell responded with four of its own in the bottom of the inning. Brouse had a two-run double that was controversially called fair as it was ruled just inside of third base. Grandizio followed with a double of his own and later scored on a fielder's choice by B.J. LaRosa, who got caught in a rundown.
Both teams also scored a run in the third inning. Bucknell's came when Donato led off with a triple and then scored on a groundout to short by Constable.
Four Toledo hitters had two hits as the Rockets had 11 as a team. Catcher Aaron Dudley, who had a single and a double, had the most impressive game with a 2-for-5 showing with two runs scored and two driven in.
Toledo reliever Tyler Scott was shouldered with the loss as he gave up four runs and three hits in 1.1 innings of work. He was lifted one out into the fifth inning after four straight Bison had reached base.
The Bucknell offense has been strong during its four games on its current trip. The Bison are averaging 9.5 runs a game and are hitting .370 as a team.
Bucknell will play its fifth of seven games in Florida on Thursday morning when it faces Vermont at 10 a.m. at Henley Field in Lakeland, Fla.
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