Bucknell University Athletics
Andreychik Named PL Pitcher of the Week; Baseball Hosts La Salle Tuesday
4/25/2016 4:07:00 PM | Baseball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell senior Andrew Andreychik (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) was named Patriot League Baseball Pitcher of the Week on Monday. The right-hander tossed nine scoreless innings with eight strikeouts before the Bison lost in 10 innings in the series opener against Holy Cross on Saturday.
Bucknell (16-28, 7-9 Patriot League), which lost all four games over the weekend against the Crusaders, will return to the field Tuesday for its final non-conference game of the season when it hosts La Salle. First pitch at Depew Field is 3 p.m.
Andreychik, who owns a 3-0 record in Patriot League play, allowed just four hits and two walks in his scoreless outing on Saturday. He retired 20 batters in a row at one point. He faced the minimum 21 batters in the second through eighth innings and concluded his stint by getting out of a bases-loaded situation in the ninth inning.
A four-year member of the Bison starting rotation, Andreychik ranks in the top 10 in school history in shutouts, wins, fewest walks per nine innings, strikeouts, games started, innings pitched and ERA.
This year, Andreychik is 4-3 with a 4.15 ERA. He has struck out a career-high 50 batters in 60.2 innings. Andreychik has been especially effective against Patriot League opponents, posting three wins and a 2.12 ERA. He has struck out 30 Patriot League batters and they are hitting just .230 against him.
This is the fifth time Andreychik has earned Patriot League Pitcher of the Week honors. He was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week once in 2013 on his way to being named the league's Rookie of the Year.
Andreychik will next be on the mound this weekend against Navy, but his teammates will be in action Tuesday against La Salle. The Explorers are 11-30 on the year and 3-9 in Atlantic 10 play. La Salle has lost nine of its last 10 outings.
This will be the first meeting for Bucknell and La Salle since the Explorers defeated the Bison 3-1 in the 2012 season opener at Davidson. The all-time series is tied 3-3.
La Salle is hitting .210 on the year and has a 5.70 ERA. Bucknell is hitting .258 with a 5.26 ERA.
Bison leadoff hitter Brett Smith enters the contest on a 21-game hitting streak, the longest by a Bucknell player since 2012. Joe Ogren has at least one hit in 10 consecutive games for the Bison.
Bison outfielder/pitcher Danny Rafferty will be heading into Tuesday's contest coming off the best offensive game of his career. The left-hander hit two home runs, one double and one triple to break the program record for total bases in a game with 13. He also drove in a career-high five runs and scored four.
Following Tuesday's game, Bucknell will prepare for first-place Navy to visit Lewisburg this weekend. The Bison and Mids will play doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday at noon. Senior Day ceremonies will take place prior to Saturday's games, while a special ceremony honoring former head coach Gene Depew and his family will be held prior to first pitch on Sunday.
Bucknell Baseball's 2016 Weekly Awards
Patriot League Player of the Week: Sam Clark (April 18)
Patriot League Pitcher of the Week: Andrew Andreychik (April 25)
Patriot League Rookie of the Week: Jeff Gottesman (Feb. 22), Jack Grabek (March 28)
Bison Athlete of the Week: Brett Smith (April 4)
Current Bison on Program Career Top-10 Lists
Andrew Andreychik: Shutouts (t-1st, 5), Wins (t-3rd, 17), Fewest Walks/9 in. (6th, 2.31), Strikeouts (5th, 174), Games Started (t-5th, 36), Innings Pitched (8th, 229.2), ERA (10th, 3.61)
Mike Castellani: ERA (9th, 3.44)
Max Kra: Appearances (7th, 55)
Jon Mayer: Hit by Pitch (t-6th, 23)
Joe Ogren: Hit by Pitch (1st, 38), Walks (2nd, 79), Games Started (3rd, 182), At Bats (4th, 647), Games Started (4th, 178), Doubles (5th, 42), Games Played (5th, 183), Hits (8th, 197), Sac Flies (t-8th, 8), Runs Scored (10th, 124), Total Bases (10th, 284), RBIs (t-10th, 105)
Danny Rafferty: Saves (8th, 6)
Brett Smith: Triples (t-7th, 11)
