Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Villanova
Eighth-Inning Rally Lifts Bucknell Baseball to 3-2 Win at Villanova
3/8/2011 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 8, 2011
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - The Bucknell baseball team totaled nine hits and 13 baserunners over the first seven innings of play Tuesday afternoon at Villanova, but could not get a run across and trailed the Wildcats 2-0 entering the eighth inning. A David Duffett two-run single in the eighth tied the score, and a wild pitch allowed what proved to be the winning run score as the Bison defeated Villanova, 3-2, for their fourth win in their last six games.
A one-out single by Mark Figgie got the eighth-inning rally started and knocked Wildcat reliever Pat Young from the game after 2.1 innings. Mike Francisco (0-2) entered the contest and four of the first five Bucknell hitters he faced reach base.
Robb Scott drew a walk against Francisco and Travis Clark followed with an infield single to load the bases with just one out. After a Gerry Runyan strikeout, Duffett came to the plate and singled to center, tying the score at 2-2. An intentional walk to Bison all-time home run leader Doug Shribman reloaded the bases. With Scott Reed at the plate, Francisco uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Clark to scamper home with what proved to be the winning run.
After starter Dylan Seeley had a solid outing with just four hits and two runs allowed in 5.0 innings, Bucknell turned to its bullpen, which had a strong showing. Dan Goldstein, Gabe Noyalis (1-0), Eric Jarrett, Alex Cillo and Steve Carlin combined to pitch the final 4.0 innings and yielded just two hits and two walks while holding Villanova (4-7) without a run. Carlin retired three of the four hitters he faced in the ninth inning for his second save of the year.
Despite threatening constantly early in the game, the Bison offense was unable to score a run off Wildcat starter Kevin MacLachlin, who lasted 5.0 innings, allowed seven hits and walked one while striking out three. Bucknell even loaded the bases in the fifth for Shribman, but was unable to push a run across.
The Bison finished the game with 12 hits, compared to just six for Villanova. Duffett, Reed, Drew Constable and Robb Scott posted two hits apiece, while Shribman reached base three times thanks to a pair of walks and a first-inning single. Eight of Bucknell's 12 hits came with two outs, including Duffett's eighth-inning single.
Villanova scored its two runs in the second inning off Seeley when Dain Hall led off with the first of his two hits and later scored on a sacrifice fly. A two-out double by Marlon Calbi followed by a single by ninth-place hitter Kevin Wager staked the Wildcats to an early 2-0 advantage.
Tuesday's game continued a trend of recent low-scoring close games for Bucknell. Six of the Bison's last seven outings have been decided by two runs or less and the winning team is averaging just 4.7 runs per game over that span.
Bucknell (4-7) will next be in action on Sunday when it begins its spring break trip to Florida against Air Force. The 9:30 a.m. contest will kick off a stretch of seven games in seven days for the Bison, who played in their home state for the first time this year on Tuesday.
