Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
James Madison
Bucknell Baseball Opens Four-Game Series at James Madison with 12-1 Loss
2/24/2012 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2012
HARRISONBURG, Va. - Bucknell's Bob Donato led off the game with his 18th career home run, but James Madison scored 12 runs on 20 hits as the Bison fell to the Dukes by a 12-1 score in the first contest in a four-game weekend series at Eagle Field at Veteran Memorial Park. Ty McFarland, Casey Goss and Conner Brown led James Madison with three hits apiece.
The Bison bullpen provided solid relief for starter Ryan Ebner, who left the game two outs into the fourth inning trailing 8-1. Veterans Dan Goldstein, Marcus Garone and Matt Lamore pitched the final 4.1 innings and were charged with just two earned runs.
Carter Bumgardner, Gerry Runyan and David Duffett each posted two hits for Bucknell (1-2), which tallied nine total in the contest. Runyan's two hits were doubles as five of the Bison's nine hits went for extra bases.
Donato's leadoff home run was the first of the season by a Bucknell player. He moved into a tie for 10th place on the program's all-time list with Dave Apollon and Kyle Walter.
James Madison (2-2-1) starter Sean Tierney pitched 6.0 innings, yielded seven hits and allowed just Donato's home run while striking out five. Three relievers pitched the final three innings and allowed three baserunners.
The Dukes scored at least one run in six of their eight at bats. The tallied three runs in the first inning and five more in the fourth as they totaled six extra-base hits and left 12 runners on base.
Bucknell and James Madison will continue their four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon. The weekend series will conclude with a single game Sunday afternoon.
