Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
VCU
Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader From VCU in Myrtle Beach
2/22/2015 12:51:00 AM | Baseball
Game 1: Bucknell 5, VCU 1
Game 2: Bucknell 6, VCU 4
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Strong pitching by senior starters Bryson Hough and Xavier Hammond propelled the Bucknell baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of VCU Saturday night. Hough tossed six shutout innings in a 5-1 game one victory, while Hammond followed with a complete game victory by a 6-4 margin after fighting off a ninth-inning rally by the Rams.
“Bryson and Xavier were outstanding,” commented 2014 Patriot League Coach of the Year Scott Heather. “Both kept their pitch counts low and made big pitches when they needed to and we got enough timely hits to win a pair of games.”
Bucknell (3-1) also received strong hitting from Joe Ogren, who was 6-for-7 in the twinbill with a pair of three-hit contests. The junior second baseman scored three runs and drove in two more and he hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth in game one.
The Bison built a 5-0 lead in game one, plating one run in the bottom of the first on a groundout by Danny Rafferty, who had two hits in game two.
Bucknell added three more runs in the third and Ogren's home run capped the Bison scoring in the fifth.
After allowing a leadoff single, Hough retired the next six hitters he faced. He allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out two. He left the game with a 5-0 lead.
Mike Castellani pitched the final three innings to earn the save. The lefty allowed just two hits, but did walk three batters.
Bucknell again scored a run in the first inning in game two. Anthony Gingerelli was hit by a pitch and Ogren followed with a double to drive him home.
An RBI double by Rafferty and a two-run double by Sam Clark in the sixth extended the Bison lead to 4-0.
VCU (1-3) plated one in the bottom of the sixth, but single runs in the seventh and ninth gave Bucknell a 6-1 cushion entering the bottom of the ninth.
Hammond had allowed just three hits over the first eight innings and retired the first hitter in the ninth. A two-out, two-run home run by Jimmy Kerrigan cut the Bison advantage to 6-3. An error and two singles followed, but Hammond struck out Daane Berezo to end the game.
Hammond (1-0) struck out nine in the contest as he recorded his third career complete game.
VCU used seven pitchers in the doubleheader compared to the three Bucknell utilized.
The two teams will conclude their three-game weekend series Sunday at 1 p.m., just 13 hours after the conclusion of Saturday's play.
