Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Indiana
Three-Run Ninth Inning Lifts No. 24 Indiana Over Bucknell Baseball, 8-5
3/15/2013 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 15, 2013
BABSON, Fla. - A Justin Meier RBI ground out in the bottom of the seventh inning plated the tying run and the Bucknell baseball team headed to the ninth inning deadlocked with nationally ranked Indiana at 5-5. However, the Hoosiers capitalized on three hit by pitches in the top of the ninth inning to score three runs and defeat the Bison by an 8-5 score Friday afternoon at Webber International University.
Indiana (12-3) entered the game ranked 24th nationally by Baseball America and the Bison had a good chance at a win. Bucknell (4-12), which had 12 hits in the game and received another solid pitching performance from starter Bryson Hough, led 4-2 entering the fifth inning and tied the score in the seventh.
Hough, who registered his first career shutout Sunday vs. North Dakota State, logged 8.0 innings and allowed nine hits and five runs, only four of which were earned. He struck out four and retired nine in a row at one point. He departed heading into the ninth inning in favor of freshman Max Kra with the score tied. Kra had not allowed a run in 7.1 innings this season, but all five hitters he faced reach base via two hits and three hit by pitches. Jack McLinden got the final three outs, but not before the Hoosiers led 8-5.
Ryan Halstead, who pitched the final three innings and struck out four while allowing just two hits, retired the Bison in order in the bottom of the ninth to earn his first win of the season for Indiana, which also has wins over Patriot League foes Army and Navy this week.
Corey Furman, who was 4-for-4 vs. Valparaiso on Thursday led Bucknell against Indiana with a 3-for-4 performance with two runs scored. Robb Scott was 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to four games, while Joe Ogren also had a pair of hits.
A Kyle Schwarber home run staked the Hoosiers to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Bucknell cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the first. Furman led off with a single and later scored on a sac fly by Carter Bumgardner.
The Bison then took the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out bases-clearing three-run double by Travis Clark.
Indiana tied it in the top of the fifth as it capitalized on a Bucknell error and scored a pair of runs. The Hoosiers added the go-ahead run in the fifth when Sam Travis drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a ground out by No. 5 hitter Michael Basil.
Meier's game-tying RBI in the seventh followed a double by Scott and a single by Bumgardner. Bumgardner remained in scoring position with just one out, but Halstead retired the final two hitters in the frame.
The Bison did threaten in the eighth as Ogren and pinch hitter Colby Vanderbeck reached on singles. Clark came to the plate and had a hard-hit liner, but it was caught by the first baseman and Vanderbeck was doubled off.
Hough has now pitched 24.0 innings over his last three starts and has allowed just 21 hits while striking out 10. Opponents have scored five earned runs off him over that span.
Indiana's pitchers recorded 10 strikeouts, including five by starter Joey DeNato, who pitched 4.1 innings in the contest.
Schwarber led the Hoosier offense with a 3-for-5 performance with three RBIs. Justin Cureton entered the game as a pinch runner in the fifth inning and posted two hits.
Bucknell will wrap up its week-long trip to Florida Saturday at 10 a.m. against a second consecutive Big 10 opponent in Northwestern.
