Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
VMI
Bucknell Baseball Concludes Weekend Series with 8-2 Loss to VMI
2/21/2010 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 21, 2010
PRINCE GEORGE, Va. - Despite scoring a first-inning run to take an early lead for the third time in three games, the Bucknell baseball team lost the final contest in a weekend series against VMI by an 8-2 score Sunday afternoon at Prince George High School. Ben Yoder (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley) collected a team-high two hits for the Bison, who saw their bullpen yield just one run over the final three innings.
The score was tied 1-1 through the top of the fifth when four consecutive VMI hitters reach base against Bison starter Jack Boehm (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier). The big blows were back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Jacob Morley and Sam Roberts. The two-run double by Roberts knocked Boehm from his first career start and staked the Keydets to a 4-1 lead. Alex Cillo (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Township) came in and struck out the only hitter he faced to end the inning, after B.J. LaRosa (Jacksonville, Fla./Episcopal) gunned down Roberts trying to steal third.
Thanks to two hits, an error by Yoder and a walk, the first four hitters in the sixth reached base, knocking Cillo from the game after just two-thirds of an inning. Senior Michael Dallanegra (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) came in and retired the first three hitters he faced in order, including a pair of strikeouts. He proceeded to team with fellow relievers Daniel Hart (Levittown, N.Y./Island Trees) and Steve Carlin (Edmond, Okla./Edmond Memorial) to pitch 3.0 innings and yield just two hits and one run, which was unearned.
Bucknell (0-3) went on the board in the first inning as LaRosa was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a single by Yoder and then scored on a one-out single by Andrew Brouse (Kreamer, Pa./Midd-West).
Following that first inning, three VMI (3-0) pitchers limited the Bison to just two hits and two walks over the next seven frames. The only time they had more than one hitter reach base in an inning was the third when LaRosa and Yoder posted back-to-back one-out singles.
Bucknell tacked on a run in the ninth inning off reliever Alan Watts. The Bison's first five hitters reached base on a walk, hit by pitch and three singles, but they managed only the one run. They left the bases loaded as Gerald Runyan (Milton, Pa./Milton) and Robb Scott (Clemmons, N.C./Deerfield Academy) struck out back-to-back to end the game. The run scored on an RBI single by Drew Constable (West Chester, Pa./Henderson), his second hit of the young season.
Bucknell finished the game with seven hits, but committed three errors after combining for just one in Saturday's season-opening doubleheader.
Freshman Travis Clark (Foster City, Calif./St. Ignatius) earned his first career hit pinch hitting in the ninth inning, while Ben Allen (Port Royal, Pa./Juniata) saw his 18-game hitting streak that stretched back to last year come to an end.
Boehm (0-1) lasted 4.1 innings in his first career start, giving up six hits, four runs and one walk. The sophomore recorded his first two career strikeouts. His counterpart - VMI's Roberts - went 5.0 innings and yielded four hits and one run while walking one and striking out four as he picked up his first victory of the year.
Bucknell had 14 different position players see action, while five different pitchers got a chance to be on the mound during the early season game.
Morley, Chase Worthington and Graham Sullivan had two hits apiece for the Keydets, who registered 10 total hits against the Bison pitchers. Worthington hit VMI's sixth home run of the three-game series when he lifted a leadoff solo homer to left in the third inning off Boehm.
Bucknell will be back in action next weekend when it plays a four-game series at Old Dominion. The teams are scheduled to play a single game Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday.
