Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Eastern Illinois
Bucknell Baseball Falls to Eastern Illinois in Extra Innings, 6-5
3/15/2012 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 15, 2012
AUBURNDALE, Fla. - Bob Donato nearly became a hero for the second time in less than two weeks. The senior center fielder, who hit an extra-inning walk-off home run earlier this month vs. Niagara, hit a solo home run leading off the top of the 10th inning to stake the Bucknell baseball team to a 5-4 lead. However, Eastern Illinois forced another inning when the tying run scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the 10th and then the Panthers won on a fielding error in the bottom of the 11th Thursday afternoon at Lake Myrtle Park.
Eastern Illinois (6-10) scored single runs in six different innings en route to the victory. The majority of Bucknell's (7-7) runs came on home runs as Scott Reed hit his second round-tripper of the trip, a three-run shot off the left-field scoreboard in the fourth, and Donato followed with his shot to right field leading off the 10th. Reed now has two home runs this season, while Donato has five on the year as he extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
The Bison received strong pitching performances from starter Dan Goldstein and reliever Matt Lamore (0-1). Goldstein pitched a career-high 6.0+ innings and left with the score 4-3 in favor of Bucknell. He yielded seven hits and was charged with four runs while striking out six. The side-arm-throwing Lamore pitched the final 4.1 innings and yielded three hits and three walks along with one strikeout.
Lamore retired the first two Eastern Illinois hitters in the 11th before issuing a walk to Ryan Dineen. Dineen stole second and then scored when charging Bison shortstop Robb Scott took his eye off the ball on a slow hopper to him, enabling it to roll into short left field. There were two outs when Dineen crossed the plate with the winning run.
Bucknell, which had been averaging nearly 13 hits per game this season, had seven against three solid Eastern Illinois pitchers. Starter Mike Hoekstra pitched the first six innings and struck out six. He gave up four hits, four walks and four runs, three of which came on Reed's home run. Adam Clark then pitched three scoreless innings and Troy Barton (2-1) retired all six hitters he faced after entering the game following Donato's go-ahead home run.
The Bison committed four errors in the game, while Eastern Illinois was not charged with a miscue. The four Bison errors led to a pair of unearned runs.
David Duffett, who leads Bucknell in hitting with a .431 average this season, extended his hitting streak to six games with a hard-hit first-inning single up the middle.
T.J. McManus had three hits, all doubles, for the Panthers. Five of Eastern Illinois' 10 hits were doubles.
Bucknell, which fell to 1-1 in extra-inning games this year with Thursday's loss, will look to get back on the winning side Friday afternoon when it takes on Nebraska-Omaha, a first-year Division I program, at Henley Field. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
