Bucknell University
Bradley
Baseball Opens Florida Trip with 12-4 Loss to Bradley
3/12/2016 9:26:00 PM | Baseball
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Bison Mike Korchak and Keifer Rawlings both homered, but Bradley scored five runs in the first inning and three more in the ninth on its way to a 12-4 victory over Bucknell on Saturday afternoon at Chain of Lakes Stadium. It was the first of five spring break games in Florida for the Bison.
Bucknell (5-6) scored two runs of its own in the first inning and then Korchak hit a solo home run in the second and Rawlings hit one in the eighth. Korchak had a team-high two hits as he also singled in the fourth inning. The Bison had eight hits overall.
Bradley (5-6) took the early 5-0 lead as its batted around in the top of the first, scoring five runs on two hits, three walks and a hit by pitch.
Bison starting pitcher Jeff Gottesman (0-2) settled down and retired the side in order in the second inning. He ended up pitching 2.2 innings and was the first of seven Bucknell hurlers used in the contest. Max Kra (2.0 IP), Austin Zimmerman (1.0 IP), Jack Schoenberger (0.2 IP), Tommy Gambon (1.2 IP), Nolan Brennan (0.1 IP) and Mike Stephens (0.2 IP) followed out of the bullpen.
The Braves scored their 12 runs on just nine hits. Brady Wilkin, Ian Kristan and Andy Shadid had two hits apiece, while pinch hitter Carson Weber drove in a team-high three runs thanks to a bases-clearing triple in the ninth.
Matt Dennis (3-1) earned the win for Bradley, allowing eight hits and four runs in 7.2 innings of work. He struck out four and walked one.
Bucknell and Bradley will play the second of three straight games Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
