Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
St. Bonaventure
Baseball Jumps Out to Early Lead But Falls at St. Bonaventure, 6-4
4/6/2016 6:57:00 PM | Baseball
OLEAN, N.Y. – The first four hitters in the Bucknell lineup singled in the top of the first inning and the Bison baseball team led 4-0 after the top of the second, but St. Bonaventure scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth and five Bonnies pitchers held Bucknell scoreless over its final seven at bats to post a 6-4 victory over the Bison. Bucknell fell to 12-18 on the year, while St. Bonaventure improved to 12-10-1.
The Bison outhit the Bonnies 13-5 with the top four hitters in the Bucknell lineup – Brett Smith, Danny Rafferty, Joe Ogren and Spencer Stokes – combining to go 9-for-18 with three runs scored and three RBIs. All four registered singles in the first inning with Smith, Rafferty and Ogren coming around to score to give the Bison their early lead.
Bucknell had four more singles in the second inning with Ogren's one-out RBI single driving home Jared Drizin from third.
The Bison left two runners in scoring position in the fifth and two more on base in the seventh, but were unable to push any additional runs across against the St. Bonaventure bullpen.
The Bonnies scored an unearned run in the third inning, but their big frame was the sixth when they batted around and scored five runs to take the lead. St. Bonaventure took advantage of three walks in the inning with Ted Dilts hitting a two-run home run and Thad Johnson driving in two more with an RBI single.
For the second straight mid-week game Bucknell used eight pitchers. Connor Van Hoose made the start and pitched a scoreless first 2.0 innings and allowed just one hit. The Bison bullpen yielded just four more hits, but issued eight walks. Mike Stephens (0-2) was tagged with the loss.
Ben Contento (1-0) earned the win for St. Bonaventure by retiring all four batters he faced in the sixth and seventh innings. Johnson earned his second save by pitching a perfect ninth inning.
Bucknell will return to Patriot League play this weekend when it plays a four-game series at Army West Point. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at noon, while Sunday's first pitch is slated for 1 p.m. The Bison are 3-1 in Patriot League play this season.
