Bucknell University
Towson
Baseball Drops 4-2 Non-League Decision at Towson
4/16/2014 6:48:00 PM | Baseball
TOWSON, Md. – The Bucknell baseball team traveled to Towson for a non-league contest Wednesday afternoon and lost to the Tigers by a 4-2 score at Schuerholz Park. The Bison, who had won three of their last four non-conference games, put the tying run on base in the top of the ninth, but could not complete the comeback from an early 3-0 deficit.
Towson (17-15) outhit Bucknell (19-15-1) by a 12-3 margin with four different Tigers posting two-hit outings. Towson left nine runners on base, compared to six for the Bison, who drew eight walks in the game.
Brett Smith, Anthony Gingerelli and Alex O'Neill each singled for Bucknell. Corey Furman walked once, marking the 16th straight game he has reached base, but he saw his team-best 12-game hitting streak come to an end.
Freshman Tommy Gambon (0-1) started on the mound for the Bison, who used five pitchers in the game. It was Gambon's first appearance since March 10 and the Tigers plated a pair of runs against him in the bottom of the first. The right-hander yielded one more run in the third before fellow rookie Jack Schoenberger relieved him and proceeded to pitch three shutout innings while allowing three hits and two walks. He has not allowed a run in two appearances and 4.2 innings of work this season.
Bucknell cut into the three-run deficit with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. An O'Neill single and a bases-loaded walk by Gingerelli drove home the two Bison runs.
Towson was able to plate an insurance run against rookie lefty Mike Castellani in the bottom of the seventh. The run snapped a string of 21.0 consecutive innings without being charged with a run for Castellani, whose ERA is still a solid 1.64 to rank second on the team. Tom Hrabchak and Tucker Rekucki both pitched scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
O'Neill and pinch hitter Danny Rafferty both drew two-out walks for the Bison in the top of the ninth, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate in the form of Will Mooney, but Towson reliever Brandon Gonnella was able to retire him to pick up his eighth save of the season.
Tigers starter Joe Patton (3-2) earned the win by allowing two hits and two runs while striking out four in five innings of work. He did walk four Bucknell hitters. Towson used four pitchers in the contest.
The Bison will conclude their 10-game road trip this weekend when they return to Patriot League play with a four-game series at Lafayette. Doubleheaders will be played both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's first pitch is slated for 12 p.m., while Sunday's is set for 1 p.m.
