Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
VCU
Baseball Wins Fourth Straight, Downs VCU 3-2
2/22/2015 5:31:00 PM | Baseball
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – One day after receiving strong pitching performances from both starting pitchers in a doubleheader sweep of VCU, the Bucknell baseball team on Sunday had five pitchers combine to limit the Rams to five hits in a 3-2 victory that earned a three-game series sweep for the Bison. Bucknell (4-1) is off to its best start to a season since opening the 1991 campaign with a 5-1 mark.
Highlighting the victory for Bucknell was the performance of Danny Rafferty. The sophomore started the game at designated hitter and was credited with an RBI. He came on to pitch in the seventh inning and retired the side in order in both the seventh and eighth before giving way to closer Tucker Rekucki.
Rafferty moved to left field for the start of the ninth inning, but was called back to the mound after two batters reached against Rekucki, who also got a pair of hitters to ground out. The left-handed Rafferty then got left-handed leadoff hitter Cody Acker to ground out to first with the tying and go-ahead runs on base to earn the save.
The Bison bullpen was strong behind starter Jordan Holtz as Nolan Brennan, Tommy Gambon, Rafferty and Rekucki pitched 4.1 innings and yielded just one hit and two walks without allowing a run. Holtz scattered four hits and three walks over his 4.2 innings of work in his first career start.
After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning, Bucknell scored two runs in the fourth inning to take its first lead of the game. Joe Ogren, who was 2-for-4 on the day and is now 13-for-21 (.619) on the season, had a one-out single and proceeded to score on a Jon Mayer triple. Mayer then came home on a ground out by Rafferty.
A fifth-inning leadoff home run by VCU's Matt Davis tied the score at 2-2.
The Bison scored what proved to be the winning run in the sixth when Anthony Gingerelli's one-out double that knocked starter Jojo Howie (0-2) from the game was followed by a run-scoring single by Ogren.
Howie and reliever Daniel Concepcion limited Bucknell to just five hits and four of those came in the two innings in which the Bison scored runs.
The Rams (1-4) also had just five hits, but did draw five walks and were hit by three pitches.
Bucknell is currently scheduled to open its home schedule next weekend with a four-game series vs. Buffalo at Depew Field. Start time both days is noon.
