Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy
Ebner Improves to 5-1 as Bucknell Baseball Splits with Navy
4/17/2011 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 17, 2011
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Getting their series started one day later than originally planned due to Saturday's rainout, the Bucknell and Navy baseball teams squared off in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Max Bishop Stadium and each squad came away with a win. The Bison claimed game one, 2-1, behind a complete-game four-hitter from Ryan Ebner, while the Mids won game two, 5-2, totaling 10 of their 12 hits in the first five innings.
Doug Shribman was 3-for-7 and drove in two of Bucknell's (15-21, 3-7 Patriot League) runs in the doubleheader. He hit his 12th home run of the year, and the 39th of his career, in the first inning of game two. Bob Donato also had a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three walks and a hit by pitch. He reached base in seven of his eight plate appearances in the twinbill, and drove home what proved to be the winning run in game one on a bases-loaded walk.
The Bison posted eight hits, drew four walks and were hit by two pitches in game one, but all the baserunners led to just two runs as they left 12 runners on base. Luckily, Ebner was strong on the mound, limiting Navy to one run on four hits in the seven-inning complete game. Ebner carried a no-hitter into the fourth and struck out seven as he improved to 5-1 on the year. He has earned the win in eight of Bucknell's last 18 victories, dating back to the 2010 Patriot League Tournament.
Both of the Bison's runs came in the fifth inning when Drew Constable led off the fifth inning with a double and was driven home on a single through the left side by Shribman, who now has 34 RBIs this season. Gerry Runyan and Scott Reed followed with singles to load the bases. Donato then came to the plate and drew a one-out walk, plating Shribman with the go-ahead run.
Navy scored its lone run in the fourth inning when a two-out single by Jonathan Wright scored Taylor Cato from second.
Ben Nelson suffered the loss on the mound for the Mids as he fell to 4-4 on the year after giving up six hits and two runs in 4.1 innings.
In game two, Bucknell again scored two runs, but this time it wasn't enough as Navy scored once in the first, three times in the third and plated one more insurance run in the sixth. The Mids registered 11 hits and all five runs off Bison starter Dylan Seeley (1-6), who was removed after giving up a leadoff single in the sixth.
Ten of Navy's 12 hits were singles and the Mids did strand 11 runners on base in the nightcap.
Bucknell reliver Alex Cillo continued his recent strong pitching as he fired 2.2 innings of shutout relief, yielding just one hit and walking one hitter. He sent Navy down in order in the eighth and ninth innings, extending his streak without allowing an earned run to 21.0 innings. Cillo's ERA this season is a team-best 3.04 and he has not yielded an earned run since Feb. 19 at James Madison.
Shribman's home run staked the Bison to an early lead, but their only other run came in the third when David Duffett scored on a Gerry Runyan single up the middle. Donato was up next and doubled. Runyan tried to score on the double, but was gunned down at the plate for the third out in the inning.
Johnny Schoberl struck out eight in 6.0 innings to earn the win in game two and improve to 5-1 this year. Wes Olson struck out four and allowed just one baserunner in the final three innings to earn his second save of the year.
Since Saturday's doubleheader was rained out, Bucknell and Navy will wrap up their four-game weekend series with another doubleheader Monday. First pitch is 1 p.m. at Max Bishop Stadium.
