Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Cillo and Ebner Named to Patriot League Baseball All-Tournament Team
5/25/2011 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 25, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Following Navy's victory over Army in the deciding game three of the Patriot League Baseball Championship Series on Tuesday, the Patriot League announced the All-Tournament Team and a pair of Bison pitchers were recognized. Junior All-Patriot League selections Alex Cillo (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Township) and Ryan Ebner (Sinking Spring, Pa./The Hill School) were named to the 11-person team.
Cillo and Ebner combined to pitch a 16-inning shutout in game one of the best-of-three semifinal series at top-seeded Navy on May 14. Both hurlers logged eight scoreless innings in the contest, which the Bison claimed by a 1-0 score.
Ebner started the postseason game vs. the Mids and allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out five. Cillo relieved Ebner one hitter into the ninth inning and yielded six hits and two walks while striking out three to pick up his fourth victory of the season. The 16-inning affair was the longest game in Bucknell history, surpassing a pair of 15-inning contests in the mid-1970s.
The Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, Ebner helped Bucknell to wins in each of his final 10 starts and he finished the 2011 campaign with a 6-1 mark and a 3.53 ERA. He posted a team-high 54 strikeouts and held opponents in three or fewer earned runs in nine of his final 10 starts, eight of which were at least 5.1 innings in length.
A Second Team All-Patriot League selection, Cillo's previous career high for innings was 4.0. He finished the season with a team-best 1.96 ERA in 46.0 innings out of the bullpen. He allowed just two earned runs over his final 43.1 innings (0.42 ERA), spanning 16 appearances, and compiled a 4-1 record.
Navy's Ben Nelson earned Tournament MVP honors. He pitched 10 shutout innings opposite Ebner and Cillo. Ebner, Cillo and Nelson were joined on the All-Tournament Team by Navy's Alex Azor, Nick Driscoll and Preston Gainey; Army's Joey Henshaw, Ben Koenigsfeld and Clint Moore; and Lafayette's Bobby Fargnoli and Zach Fritz.
Ebner has now been a member of the All-Tournament Team two straight years. He is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in four career Patriot League Tournament appearances.
Cillo and Ebner led the Bison to a 25-28 overall record in 2011, matching their win total from 2010 when they advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Bucknell was the fourth seed in the Patriot League Tournament after posting a 10-10 regular-season league mark. The Bison qualified for the postseason for the fourth consecutive year, and the sixth time in the last seven years.
