Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Bradley
Baseball Drops 8-2 Decision to Bradley
3/13/2016 9:43:00 PM | Baseball
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Alex O'Neill tied his career high with three hits and Danny Rafferty reached base three times, but the Bucknell baseball team scored just two runs in an 8-2 loss to Bradley Sunday evening at Chain of Lakes Stadium. The Braves won for the second straight day against the Bison after collecting 16 hits and scoring runs in four different innings.
Five different Bradley (6-6) players had at least two hits, including a 5-for-5 performance by Tyler Leffler. He also drove in a team-high two runs.
The Braves took the early lead with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Ten hitters stepped to the plate and two of Bradley's runs were unearned thanks to a pair of Bucknell errors.
Bucknell (5-7) trailed 6-0 when it got on the board in the top of the sixth inning with two runs. Spencer Stokes and Sam Clark led off the inning with back-to-back singles that knocked Bradley starter Cameron Roegner (1-2) from the game. Jon Mayer made it three singles in a row, bringing home Stokes. Two batters later O'Neill recorded his third single of the game as he drove home Clark.
The Bison, who registered nine hits in the game, had three baserunners over the final three innings and left two runners on base in the ninth.
Bucknell and Bradley combined to leave 23 runners on base in the game as they totaled a combined 25 hits, six walks and one hit by pitch. Both teams used four pitchers in the game.
Mike Castellani (2-1) started on the mound for Bucknell and yielded 10 hits and six runs (four earned) in 4.1 innings. P.J. Strahm, Hunter Robichaux and Rafferty came out of the bullpen to pitch the final 3.2 innings. The Bison pitchers totaled 10 strikeouts, including a team-high four by Castellani.
Bucknell, which is in the midst of a five-game spring break trip to Florida, will wrap up its three-game series with Bradley Monday at 12:30 p.m.
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