Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Old Dominion
Bucknell Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader from Old Dominion, 13-7 & 13-4
2/27/2010 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2010
NORFOLK, Va. - The Bucknell baseball offense got in gear on Saturday and helped the Bison sweep a doubleheader from Old Dominion by 13-7 and 13-4 scores at Metheny Stadium. Ben Allen and Bob Donato each posted four-hit games and Bucknell registered a total of 33 hits in the doubleheader, which featured a seven-inning game two, as it improved to 2-4 on the season.
Interestingly, 30 of the Bison's 33 hits in the two games were singles as a double by Ben Yoder in game one and a double by David Duffett and a home run by Yoder in game two were the only extra-base hits. Bucknell had five innings where it scored at least three runs and three different players drove in at least three runs in a game.
Among Bucknell's most impressive individual performances were Allen, who was 6-for-11 with three runs scored and four runs batted in, Donato, who was 6-for-10 with three runs and three RBIs, and Yoder, who was 4-for-9 with four runs scored and four driven in.
The Bison bullpen was strong once again as well. A total of five relievers appeared in the two game and they combined for 7.2 innings, yielded just two runs, struck out 11 and gave up just five hits. Reliever Matt Lamore earned the win in game one, while starter Dylan Seeley picked up his ninth career victory in game two.
In game one, Bucknell score five runs in the top of the third to take an early 5-0 lead. B.J. LaRosa and Doug Shribman each collected two-RBI singles in the frame.
That lead was short-lived, however, as Old Dominion (4-3) scored five runs of its own in the bottom of the fourth. Five of the first six hitters reached on a hit or a walk against starter Trey Frahler. He exited after the fourth hit he yielded in favor of Michael Dallanegra. Dallanegra proceeded to retire two of the three hitters he faced to end the inning.
The Monarchs took their only lead of the doubleheader the next inning when a leadoff double came around to score against Dallanegra.
RBI singles in the sixth by Allen and LaRosa in the sixth gave Bucknell the lead (8-6) for good.
The Bison took a slim 8-7 advantage into the ninth inning and proceeded to plate five more runs as they batted around against two Old Dominion hurlers. Shribman, Donato, Allen and Yoder had RBI singles in the frame, securing the victory.
After allowing the first two hitters to reach base in the bottom of the ninth, Steve Carlin retired the final three hitters in order. He pitched the final 1.2 innings and yielded two hits and struck out four.
The top third of Bucknell's order finished game one 9-for-17 and the bottom third was 6-for-14. The Bison also capitalized on three Old Dominion errors in game one, and a total of five in the doubleheader. Bucknell committed just one error in the two games.
The Bison offense carried the team again in game two as they scored eight run in the first three innings, including another five-run inning in the second. The Bison took advantage of an Old Dominion error and a dropped third strike to send 10 hitters to the plate in that frame.
Yoder's home run, a two-run shot to right, came in the third, while the Bison added three more runs in the fourth on a two-run single by Allen and an RBI single by Shribman, who leads the team with seven RBIs this season.
After using five pitchers in game one, Bucknell needed just two hurlers in game two as Seeley yielded six hits and four runs and struck out six in his 5.0 innings of work. Eric Jarrett relieved him and held Old Dominion to two hits and two walks in two innings. Jarrett retired six of the last seven hitters he faced.
Bucknell had six players with multi-hit outings in both ends of the doubleheader.
Bucknell, which had four doubleheader sweeps in 2009, has now scored first in all six of its games this season. Five times it has pushed across at least one run in the top of the first.
The Bison and Monarchs will close out their four-game series Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m.
