Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Late Inning Offensive Outburst, Strong Starting Pitching Help Bucknell Baseball Earn Split with Lafayette
4/5/2009 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 5, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Andrew Brouse (Kreamer, Pa./Midd-West) was 5-for-8 with three runs scored and four RBIs in two games Sunday at a sun-splashed Depew Field as he helped the Bucknell baseball team to a doubleheader split with Lafayette. The Bison dropped game one 8-4 in eight innings as the Leopards broke open a 3-3 tie with five runs in the top of the eighth. In the nightcap, Bucknell had its own late-inning outburst as it plated eight runs in the bottom of the eighth, turning a tight 3-2 game into an 11-2 rout. Dylan Seeley (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) recorded his third career complete in the winning effort.
The win in the final contest of the four-game series helped the Bison avoid a sweep to the Leopards, who swept a doubleheader on Saturday.
Eric Jarrett (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) started game one on the mound for Bucknell (12-17, 4-4 Patriot League) and pitched a solid game into the eighth inning. Lafayette (13-15, 4-4 Patriot League) managed just six hits and three runs off Jarrett (0-2) until the Leopards exploded for five runs in the eighth off Jarrett. All five runs in the frame were charged to Jarrett. Ryan Ebner (Reading, Pa./Hill School) got the final out of the inning.
The Bison nearly got out of the inning with just one run scored on them, but first baseman Doug Shribman (Marblehead, Mass./Belmont Hill School) mishandled a grounder with the bases loaded and two outs. One run scored on that play and three others followed.
Bucknell, which had just two hits over the final three innings off Lafayette starter Jeremy Atkins (1-1), received a solo home run from Brouse in the bottom of the eighth, but was unable to get any closer. The home run was the team-high sixth of the season for Brouse, who now has 39 RBIs this season, placing him in a tie for 10th on the Bison single-season ledger.
Bucknell held a 3-2 lead in the game entering the sixth inning, but Lafayette tied the score up on a sacrifice fly by Justin Shepherd. That run forced the extra inning contest.
A two-out triple by Brouse to deep left-center gave the Bison a 1-0 lead in the first. They added two more in the fifth, the first coming when Ben Allen laid down a bunt base hit that the third baseman Shepherd bobbled. Shepherd then wheeled and tried to get Bret Sokirka (Wyoming, Pa./Wyoming Area) at third base, but the throw went wild, allowing Sokirka to scamper home. Dane Grandizio (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg), who had four hits in the doubleheader, then doubled home Allen.
A two-out, two-run single by A.J. Pisarri in the second gave Lafayette its only lead of the game until the eighth inning. Jarrett settled down after that, retiring nine of the 11 hitters in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Bucknell finished with 10 hits in the contest with Allen, Ben Yoder (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley), Brouse and Bob Donato (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) recording two apiece. Pisarri and Matt Hall had two apiece for the Leopards, while Pisarri also drove in three runs.
Game two was a pitcher's duel until the eighth as Bucknell managed only single runs against Lafayette starter Ryan Hanna (3-3) in the second, fifth and sixth innings. Seeley (2-3) permitted just single runs to the Leopards in the second and fifth. However, the Bison offense exploded for eight runs and seven hits in the eighth.
The first five hitters in that pivotal inning singled and it took until the ninth hitter stepped to the plate for an out to be recorded. B.J. LaRosa (Jacksonville, Fla./Episcopal), who came off the bench to record two hits and drive in two runs, Sokirka and Allen had consecutive RBI singles. After pinch hitter Drew Constable (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Yoder had an RBI single to center and then Brouse followed with a single that ended up scoring three runs when Alex Bechta misplayed it. Grandizio rounded out the scoring in the frame with a one-out sacrifice fly that plated Brouse.
The Bison finished with 17 hits in the contest as all nine starters registered at least one hit. Brouse was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Grandizio also had three hits, while Allen, Yoder, Shribman and LaRosa totaled two apiece.
Bucknell managed just three hits over the first four innings of play, and all three of those came consecutively in the second inning. Brouse led off with his second triple of the day. Andrew Loucks (Mississauga, Ontario/Appleby College) followed with an RBI single and then Grandizio singled to center.
Seeley, who logged his first complete game of the year, was solid throughout. He faced more than four hitters in an inning just three times, and never more than five. He retired eight in a row at one point and yielded just one extra base hit.
A.J. Miller, who was 3-for-3 with an RBI single and home run in the eighth spot in the batting order, combined with Bierce, who had three singles, for six of Lafayette's eight hits off Seeley.
With his two multiple-hit outings Sunday, Allen has now hit in seven consecutive games. Brouse has a five-game hitting streak and has driven in at least one run in each of those five contests.
Bucknell's starting pitchers in this weekend's four-game series logged 26 of a possible 33 innings, including 16.2 of 17 on Sunday.
Prior to the game, Bucknell's eight seniors - Zachary Brown, Sean Driscoll, Hunter George, Dane Grandizio, Andrew Loucks, Jimmy Murphy, Bret Sokirka and Chris Yamaguchi - were honored during Senior Day festivities. Sunday's doubleheader marked the final Patriot League home games for those members of the Class of 2009.
Bucknell, which concluded a stretch where it played 13 of 14 at home, will head to Penn State on Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Bison will play 13 of their final 16 games on the road.
