Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Columbia
Bucknell Baseball Swept by Columbia, 5-1 & 5-3
3/27/2010 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 27, 2010
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Bucknell baseball team, which was scoring nearly 10 runs a game at one point this season, continued its offensive slump during a doubleheader Saturday at Columbia. The Bison were swept by the Lions, 5-1 and 5-3, as they fell to 10-12 on the season.
Bucknell has averaged just 2.5 runs per game over its last four outings, all losses. On Saturday, it registered a total of 12 hits, including seven in the second game. No Bison registered a multi-hit game against Columbia's three pitchers, although Ben Allen and Drew Constable each had two hits on the day.
Columbia (5-11) starter Dan Bracey kept Bucknell in check in game one, retiring the first nine hitters in order and yielding just one hit over the first four innings. The Bison did get to him in the fifth inning of the seven-inning affair as Drew Constable led off with a solo home run to right. Doug Shribman and Travis Clark followed with singles, but Bracey got David Duffet to ground out and Ben Allen to strike out to end the threat.
Bracey (1-2) registered a complete-game, five-hitter as he struck out 10 and allowed just the homer to Constable.
Trey Frahler (2-3) started for Bucknell, but walked five hitters and allowed seven hits in his 5.0 innings of work. He was strong through the first three innings when the only Lions to reach base were the top two hitters in the lineup (Nick Crucet and Jon Eisen) via two walks in the first inning and two singles in the third. However, Columbia plated four runs in the fourth with a bases-loaded walk by Crucet driving one in and two more coming on a two-run single by Eisen.
Crucet and Eisen, who were hitless in game two, ended up 3-for-4 with three RBIs in game one. Thanks to three walks and a hit by pitch, they were on base in seven of their eight combined plate appearances.
Bucknell took its first lead of the doubleheader in the top of the first in game two when Andrew Brouse hit his fourth home run of the season, putting the Bison up 2-0. The senior right fielder is now tied for ninth on the Bucknell career home run list with 17.
Columbia starter Stefan Olson settled down after the home run by Brouse and retired the next seven in order. The Bison's only other run came in the fourth on a single up the middle by Constable after B.J. LaRosa led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brouse.
Matt Lamore did walk three times, and moved to scoring position twice, but was unable to score. Additionally, with the score tied 3-3 in the top of the eighth, Allen doubled to lead off the frame, but reliever Geoff Whitaker retired the next three Bucknell hitters in order, stranding Allen at third.
Columbia, which scored a pair of unearned runs in the first on a home run by Alexander Aurrichio, took the lead in the bottom of the eighth off Bison reliever Andrew Clarke. Clarke, who entered the game with an ERA of just over 1.00, retired the first hitter he faced, but then Dario Pizzano hit a solo home run to center for what proved to be the winning run. The Lions tacked on another insurance run after two more singles off Clarke.
Bucknell did get two on with two out in the top of the ninth, but Robb Scott struck out to end the game.
Dylan Seeley started for the Bison and was solid, yielding just three runs, one earned, in 7.0 innings. He struck out four, walked one and scattered nine hits. He left with the score tied at 3-3, giving him his second consecutive no decision after a strong outing.
Bucknell and Columbia will wrap up their four-game weekend series Sunday with another doubleheader beginning at noon.
