Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
North Dakota State
Hough Pitches First Career Shutout to Lead Bucknell Baseball to 3-0 Win Over North Dakota State
3/10/2013 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 10, 2013
LAKELAND, Fla. - Bryson Hough pitched a complete-game six-hitter and Travis Clarkwas 4-for-5 with two runs scored to lead the Bucknell baseball team to a 3-0 victory over North Dakota State in the team's Florida trip opener at Henley Field. Bucknell posted single runs in the third, fifth and ninth innings as it won for the second time in its last three outings.
Hough (1-2) recorded his first career shutout and his second career complete game, striking out three and walking only one. He allowed just one baserunner to reach as far as third base as he lowered his season ERA to 2.55. In only one inning did North Dakota State (5-6) have two hitters reach base and Hough got out of the two-on jam with a double play.
"Bryson was outstanding on the mound today," said Bucknell head coach Scott Heather. "He was able to effectively use three pitches for strikes.
"Travis was our catalyst offensively today and was able to put pressure on the defense. We did a great job offensively as a team today. We forced them to make some tough plays."
Bucknell (2-9) posted a season high-tying 12 hits with third-place hitter Clark (4) and cleanup hitter Carter Bumgardner(3) accounting for seven of them. Clark had four singles, while Bumgardner had three and also reached on an error in the ninth inning.
A one-out walk by Greg Wasikowski in the third got the rally started for Bucknell's first run. A Bumgardner single moved him to second and a two-out single by Rob Krentzmanplated the first run of the game.
A two-out single by Clark in the fifth led to the second run of the game as he stole second and then scored on Bumgardner's second hit of the day.
The Bison plated an insurance run in the ninth inning in similar fashion as Clark reached on a single, stole second and then scored when North Dakota State third baseman Paul Funk committed an error on a ball of the bat of Bumgardner.
North Dakota State used four pitchers in the contest with David Ernst earning the start and pitching six innings, allowing eight hits and striking out seven.
The shutout was the first for Bucknell since a 5-0 blanking of St. Bonaventure last April 24.
Bucknell will continue its seven-game Florida trip with a 6 p.m. contest against Fairfield on Monday.
