Bucknell University
Lehigh
Yoder and Shribman Homer Twice But Bucknell Baseball Loses Two To Lehigh, 7-4 & 9-8
4/24/2010 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 24, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Ben Yoder hit home runs in both ends of the doubleheader and Doug Shribman posted his second multi-home run game this month in the nightcap, but the Bucknell baseball team lost a pair of games to Lehigh on Senior Day Saturday at Depew Field. The Bison lost game one 7-4 as the Mountain Hawks scored four two-out runs. In game two, Bucknell scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut into an eight-run deficit, but never drew even as it dropped a 9-8 decision.
Saturday's losses, coupled with Navy's sweep of Holy Cross, leave the Bison in a tie for fourth place in the Patriot League standings. However, Bucknell is just two games behind second-place Lehigh. The top four teams in the final standings qualify for the postseason tournament, while the top two teams host first-round series.
Thanks to the four combined home runs from Yoder and Shribman, Bucknell (18-27, 6-8 PL) broke the team single-season home run mark that had stood since 1997. The Bison have hit 52 home runs this year. Andrew Brouse (13 HR), Shribman (11) and Yoder (10) also mark the first time more than one Bucknell hitter has reached double figures in a season.
Despite the power from the Yoder and Shribman, Lehigh's (16-22, 8-6 PL) starters set the tone for the doubleheader. Game one starter Andrew Berger (4-1) pitched a complete game and allowed just three hits and one run after the three-run first inning the Bison registered.
Game two starter Ken Longernecker (5-2) was solid through the first five innings, limiting the Bison to one run on a solo home run to right by Shribman leading off the second. Bucknell did repeatedly challenge Longernecker as it had at least one runner in scoring position each inning and left the bases loaded in the third. Overall, the Bison left 10 runners on base in game two.
The Bison bullpen was strong as Ryan Ebner retired all four hitters he faced in game one, while Daniel Hart, Michael Dallanegra and Matt Lamore yielded just four hits and one walk in a combined 5.2 innings of work in game two. Dallanegra and Lamore combined to retire the final 10 Lehigh hitters after an RBI triple by Andrew Russell in the sixth that proved to plate the winning run. At that point, it made the score 9-1, though.
Both offenses started off game one on fire as Brendan McGaheran, who had four hits on the day, led off the top of the first with a solo home run. The Bison followed with three runs in the bottom half, two coming on a Yoder home run to right field and another coming on a Shribman double. However, Bucknell scored just one run the rest of the way, while Lehigh tacked on to its first-inning tally with runs in five of its seven at bats.
The Mountain Hawks proved to be strong with two outs in game one as twice Bucknell starter Trey Frahler easily retired the first two hitters in an inning followed by the Mountain Hawks scoring two runs.
Yoder, who drove in five runs in the doubleheader, led the way for Bucknell in game one with two hits, two runs and two RBIs. The only other Bison to reach base more than once was Brouse, who singled in the first inning and was hit by a pitch in the third.
Bucknell jumped out on top in game two on Shribman's first home run, but Lehigh proceeded to take the lead on a two-run double by McGaheran in the third off starter Steve Carlin (1-4). The next inning the Mountain Hawks sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored six runs. Carlin and Hart combined to walk three hitters and hit another one.
After that six-run fourth inning, Lehigh had just three baserunners the rest of the game and Bucknell stormed back with six runs of its own in the bottom of the sixth, when it sent 10 hitters to the plate. A Yoder three-run home run and a Lamore bases-loaded, three-run double to left center accounted for all six runs and made it a 9-7 ballgame.
A two-out home run by Shribman in the eighth that easily cleared the left-field wall brought the Bison to within 9-8.
Lamore led off the ninth with a single into left, but Bob Donato popped out to short and pinch hitter Kevin Drozin grounded into a double play, halting a possible comeback.
Yoder ended the doubleheader 3-for-7, while Ben Allen was 3-for-8 with one run scored. He also extended his hitting streak to 11 games as he made his 127th and 128th consecutive starts at shortstop.
Prior to game one, Bucknell's seven seniors were honored during Senior Day ceremonies. Ben Allen, Andrew Brouse, Andrew Clarke, Michael Dallanegra, Kevin Drozin, B.J. LaRosa and Ben Yoder were the seven seniors recognized along with their parents and family members.
Bucknell and Lehigh are scheduled to play another doubleheader on Sunday at Depew Field starting at noon. It is the final home Patriot League games for the Bison in 2010.
