Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Butler
Bucknell Baseball Shuts Out Butler, 14-0
3/16/2011 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 16, 2011
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Bucknell sent 14 hitters to the plate in the first inning and nine of them scored as the Bison defeated Butler 14-0 Wednesday evening at Chain of Lakes Park. Ryan Ebner (Sinking Spring, Pa./The Hill School), Taylor Runge (Cochranville, Pa./Octorara) and Jack McLinden (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Ignatius) combined on the first Bison shutout since last May 2.
Bucknell (7-8) scored nine runs on seven hits in the first inning. In fact, eight consecutive hitters reached base via a hit, walk or hit by pitch during one stretch. The big blows in the inning were two-run singles by David Duffett (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and Robb Scott (Clemmons, N.C./Deerfield Academy) as well as a two-run double by Gerry Runyan (Milton, Pa./Milton Area), who was one of four Bison with multi-hit outings.
Second baseman Travis Clark (Foster City, Calif./St. Ignatius) had a strong game as he was 1-for-3 with four runs batted in and a pair of runs scored. He was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the first, hit a two-run double in the fourth and drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the sixth.
The bottom three spots in the Bucknell lineup were a combined 5-for-13 with four runs scored and six RBIs.
Ebner (2-1) had a strong outing on the mound for the Bison as he yielded just four hits and struck out seven in 7.0 innings. He has allowed just one earned run over his last two starts (14.0 IP). Ebner gave way to Runge, who struck out the side in the eighth in his first career appearance, and McLinden, who did not allow a hit in the ninth.
Bucknell's victory snapped a five-game Butler (7-5) winning streak.
Three of the Bison's final five runs over the final eight innings were unearned as they capitalized on four Bulldog errors.
Kyle Kramp (0-1) pitched all nine innings for Butler. He was touched for 14 runs, 14 hits, four walks and one hit by pitch while striking out nine.
Bucknell, which has won seven of its last 10 games, will take on Indiana Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in Lakeland, Fla.
