Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
La Salle
Bucknell Baseball Drops Season Opener to La Salle, 3-1
2/18/2012 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 18, 2012
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Bucknell baseball team opened its 2012 season Saturday afternoon against La Salle at Davidson's Wilson Field and came away with a 3-1 loss. The Explorers tallied two runs in the bottom of the first inning off 2011 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Ryan Ebner and the Bison offense scored just once on an unearned run in the second inning.
Ebner (0-1), who helped Bucknell (0-1) to wins in each of his last 10 starts since losing his first appearance last year, pitched 3.1 innings and struck out five while allowing seven hits and three runs, just two of which were earned. Relievers Dan Goldstein (3.2 innings) and Marcus Garone (1.0 inning) held La Salle in check over the final 4.2 innings, allowing just three baserunners on two walks and a single.
The Bison threatened in the eighth inning when La Salle (1-0) used three pitchers, but Pat Christensen struck out cleanup hitter Scott Reed with the bases loaded to end the frame. Christensen had hit the first two hitters he faced since coming on with two outs and a runner on first.
The lone Bucknell run came in the second inning when team co-captain David Duffett led off with a double down the left-field line and moved to third on a single by Brett Ashley. With two outs Ashley stole second and Duffett stole home, cutting the Bison deficit to 2-1.
Following Ashley's single, La Salle starter Eric Van Wyk (1-0) retired 14 in a row. He logged 6.0 innings and yielded just three hits while striking out seven.
Ashley added a single to left in the seventh inning as he finished the game 2-for-4, registering Bucknell's only multi-hit outing.
The Bison will face Niagara Saturday night at 7 p.m. as they continue their three-game season-opening weekend at Davidson.
