Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Duke
Weigel Carries Shutout Into Ninth, but Bucknell Baseball Loses to Duke, 2-0, on Walk-Off Home Run
2/23/2013 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2013
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke cleanup hitter Jordan Betts hit a two-out, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to break a 0-0 deadlock and give the Blue Devils a 2-0 victory over Bucknell in baseball action Saturday at Jack Coombs Field. Dan Weigel put together an impressive outing on the mound for the Bison, yielding just two hits in 8.1 innings while striking out five.
Weigel (0-2) and Duke (3-2) starter Drew Van Orden were the story of the game. The Blue Devils had just four baserunners over the first eight innings against Weigel, while the Bison offense managed only three the entire game. No Bucknell runner advanced into scoring position. Van Orden pitched eight shutout innings and struck out 13 and combined with Andrew Istler (1-0) on a one-hitter.
Weigel got one out in the ninth, but was lifted from the game after walking Jeff Kremer. Kremer advanced to second on a wild pitch by reliever Marcus Garone. He then moved to third on a sac fly, just barely beating the throw from center fielder Corey Furman. Betts then hit the walk-off homer over the left-center field wall.
"Dan Weigel was outstanding today," said Bucknell head coach Scott Heather. "He located down in the zone, used all of his pitches well and kept their bats at bay, giving us a chance to win. Offensively we are struggling to string quality at bats together and not putting the ball in play enough. We're facing good pitching but we have to be tougher with two strikes."
Bucknell's (0-5) lone hit came from Greg Wasikowski with two outs in the third. Furman also reached base when he was hit by a pitch in the sixth and catcher Justin Meier drew a leadoff walk in the eighth before Van Orden struck out the side.
Bucknell and Duke will conclude their three-game series Sunday with a noon game at Jack Coombs Field.
