Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Longwood
Bucknell Baseball Opens Home Schedule with Doubleheader Sweep of Longwood
3/26/2011 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 26, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell received a pair of solid starts from pitchers Dylan Seeley and Ryan Ebner and Doug Shribman hit for the cycle, going 4-for-9 with two runs scored and three RBIs, as the Bison swept a doubleheader from Longwood Saturday afternoon at cold, but extremely sunny, Depew Field.
Bucknell, which evened its record at 10-10 on the season, claimed game one 3-2 on a walk-off triple by Drew Constable, while it plated seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning in game two en route to an 11-2 victory.
Longwood (17-9) did not score a run in either game until the final inning. It trailed 2-0 entering the seventh, and final, inning in game one, and it was behind 11-0 entering the ninth inning of game two.
Shribman, who hit his eighth home run of the season in the fourth inning of game two, was the most productive Bison at the plate, but plenty of other hitters contributed as Bucknell outhit Longwood 20-12 in the two games. Constable, who extended his hitting streak to a team-high six games, posted a pair of two-hit outings and was 4-for-6 overall, while Scott Reed was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles in game two. Additionally, Gerry Runyan keyed the big fourth inning in game two with a bases-clearing, three-run double to right center.
Seeley, who allowed three or fewer earned runs for the fourth time in six starts this year, was strong in game one as he retired the first six Lancers and did not allow a runner to reach third base until he had to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. He exited after allowing a pair of seventh-inning doubles that allowed the Lancers to climb to within 2-1 on the scoreboard.
Bison closer Steve Carlin (3-0) entered the game with two outs and Brant Jones on second base representing the tying run. Dustin Sollars proceeded to drive him in with a single up the middle, tying the score at 2-2.
Longwood starter Chris Briere (4-2) got Shribman and Reed to start the bottom of the seventh inning, but a hard hit ball by David Duffett back to the mound bounced off Briere's glove, allowing Duffett to reach, representing the winning run. Constable followed with a shot to the right-center gap, scoring Duffett from first, as right fielder Bobby Shelton was shaded toward the line.
Bucknell initially took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when Robb Scott led off with a walk and came around to score on a Shribman triple to deep left field.
The Bison added what proved to be an important insurance run in the sixth when Constable, Matt Lamore and Travis Clark reached on three consecutive singles. Clark's single scored Constable, but it turned out to be thanks to an error on the left fielder, Michael Sims. Bucknell head coach Gene Depew was waving Constable around third, but he put on the brakes to stop. However, Sims bobbled the ball when picking it up, allowing Constable to head for home and score easily. He would have ended up scoring either way, though, as Scott followed with a walk, one of just 10 issued in the entire doubleheader by both teams.
Ebner was the story in game two as he fired eight shutout innings, following seven shutout innings in his last outing 10 days ago against Butler. He yielded just one hit over the first five innings and sent the Lancers down 1-2-3 five times. Ebner, who struck out four on Saturday, has now allowed just one earned run and 10 hits, to go along with 14 strikeouts, over his last three appearances (22.0 IP).
Bucknell went on top 1-0 in the first inning, but the big outburst came in the fourth when 12 hitters stepped to the plate and seven runs came across to score. Runyan's three-run double and Shribman's home run off the center field wall extension were the big blows in the frame that featured four hits, two walks and two hit by pitches.
Corey Ramsey (3-2) picked up the loss for Longwood. He pitched into the fourth inning before Shribman's home run knocked him from the game. He was charged with eight earned runs, six hits and four walks in 3.1 innings.
The Bison added one two runs in the sixth on an RBI single by Reed and a sac fly by pinch hitter Matt Busch, while the final run came in the eighth when Robb Scott led off with a triple to left and later scored on ground out by Bob Donato.
Bucknell has now won 10 of its last 15 games and has claimed seven of its last 10 played at Depew Field.
With his four hits Saturday, Shribman now has 23 hits on the season, 15 for extra bases. He has five doubles, two triples and eight home runs.
The Bison and Lancers will wrap up their four-game weekend series with another doubleheader Sunday. First pitch is 12 p.m. at Depew Field.
