Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Baseball Takes on Penn State in Four-Game Weekend Series
3/21/2014 10:01:00 AM | Baseball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell baseball team will end a weeklong layoff this weekend when it takes on regional foe Penn State in a four-game weekend series. The Bison and Nittany Lions will square off in a noon doubleheader Saturday at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The two teams will then play a doubleheader Sunday at noon at Bucknell's Depew Field. It will mark the first visit to Lewisburg for the Nittany Lions since 2004.
Fans can listen to Saturday's doubleheader via GoPSUSports.com, while Sunday's twinbill will be broadcast live on 90.5 WVBU FM and BucknellBison.com.
Penn State is the second consecutive Big Ten opponent for the Bison, who defeated Northwestern by a 6-5 score last Saturday in Florida. Bucknell is 33-112 all-time against the Nittany Lions with Penn State winning the last 19 in the series since 1998. However, five of the last six contests have been decided by two runs or less, including last year's meeting that went 12 innings.
The Bison bring a 7-8-1 record into the weekend, placing them third among Patriot League teams in wins during the non-conference portion of the season. Bucknell is coming off a 3-3-1 spring break trip to Florida. It was scheduled to play Wednesday at Mount St. Mary's, but the contest was postponed to April 2 due to inclement weather.
Corey Furman continues to lead the Bison in most offensive categories as he is hitting .488 with four doubles, five triples, two home runs and 13 RBIs. He has hit in eight straight games, but did miss the last few outings in Florida with an injury.
Freshman leadoff hitter Brett Smith has also been swinging the bat well and is hitting .291 on the year with a .381 on-base percentage. He has scored a team-high 14 runs. Joe Ogren – the only Bison to start all 16 games – is hitting .367 with a team-high 22 hits. He has driven in 11 runs and has five extra-base hits.
Bucknell's pitching staff has a solid 3.72 ERA over the last four games. The bullpen owns a 4.44 ERA this season with Jack Schoenberger (0.00), Tom Hrabchak (0.93) and Mike Castellani (2.38) leading the way.
The Bison are expected to start Bryson Hough, Dan Weigel, Andrew Andreychik and Xavier Hammond this weekend. That quartet has started 15 of the team's first 16 games.
Penn State brings a 7-12 record into this weekend's series. The Nittany Lions won two home mid-week contests against NYIT this past week. Rob Cooper is in his first year as Penn State's head coach after nine seasons at Wright State.
The Nittany Lions are hitting .244 as a team and own a 4.83 ERA.
Bucknell will have one more non-league matchup Tuesday at Binghamton before opening Patriot League play next weekend at home vs. Navy. Doubleheaders will begin both Saturday and Sunday at noon.
Weekend Pitching Matchups
Saturday Game 1: RHP Bryson Hough (2-2, 6.11 ERA, 18 K) vs. T.J. Jann (0-4, 3.18 ERA, 20 K)
Saturday Game 2: LHP Dan Weigel (0-3, 5.04 ERA, 15 K) vs. Patton Taylor (1-1, 5.64 ERA, 9 K)
Sunday Game 1: RHP Andrew Andreychik (1-2, 4.26 ERA, 15 K) vs. Greg Welsh (0-3, 7.08 ERA, 17 K)
Sunday Game 2: LHP Xavier Hammond (0-1, 7.11 ERA, 10 K) vs. TBA
Bucknell Baseball Home Radio Broadcast Schedule
(Games air live on WVBU 90.5 and BucknellBison.com)
March 23: vs. Penn State (DH), 12 p.m.
March 30: vs. Navy (DH), 12 p.m.
April 5: vs. Lehigh (DH), 12 p.m.
April 6: vs. Lehigh (DH), 12 p.m.
April 26: vs. Holy Cross (DH), 12 p.m.
April 27: vs. Holy Cross (DH), 12 p.m.
