Baseball Splits with Lafayette on Senior Day

Saturday, April 27

Lewisburg, Pa.

12 P.M.

Bucknell University

11-33, 0

Lafayette

15-25, 0

Lafayette

Bucknell

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

4/27/2019 6:32:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game 1: Lafayette 12, Bucknell 4

Lafayette pounded out 14 hits and took advantage of 10 walks and four Bucknell errors on the way to a 12-4 verdict in game one of the doubleheader.

The Bison led 1-0 after back-to-back doubles from Dominic Toso and JohnPaul Bell in the first inning, but the Leopards flipped the game around with seven unearned runs, all coming on two-out hits, in the top of the third.

The seven-run rally started with an error and two walks, but the uprising appeared to be stifled thanks to a double play. Third-baseman Toso fielded a ground ball and threw home for the force out, and then the home-plate umpire ruled the batter out on interference when a late slide upended Bison catcher Alex Baumann.

But after a walk re-loaded the bases, Lafayette came up with five consecutive hits. The big blow was Bill Russo's sinking line drive to center that got past a diving P.J. Strahm, resulting in a three-run triple. Dylan Minghini, Josh Johnson and Spencer Rouse followed with run-scoring knocks to make it a 7-3 game.

Trey Durrah connected on a grand slam in the fifth, and Richard Villa drove in Lafayette's 12^th run with a single in the sixth. Bucknell came back with three in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Baumann's first career home run with a man aboard. Jared Drizin also had an RBI single in the inning.

Bucknell honored its nine seniors prior to the game, and there was a nice moment in the bottom of the seventh when senior Christian Tailor led off as a pinch-hitter. Tailor is a pitcher who has not played at all this season due to injury. But head coach Scott Heather sent him up to the plate, and Tailor worked a six-pitch walk to the delight of his teammates and fans.

Jeff Gottesman started on the mound for the Bison and had a tough day, conceding 11 runs over 4.2 innings, although only four of the runs were earned. Gottesman also exited the game to a standing ovation in his final collegiate appearance. The 2018 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year will graduate ranked in the top 10 in team history in career strikeouts.

Game Two: Bucknell 6, Lafayette 2

Solid pitching was the story in this one, as Jack Grabek didn't allow a hit through his first 4.1 innings on the way to his second win of the season on Senior day at Depew Field. Neither team allowed a hit until the fifth, before the Bison plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth and eventually take a 6-2 win. Fellow senior Hunter Robichaux was excellent in relief, not allowing a hit and striking out three en route to his fourth save of the year.

The pitching was good for both teams early on, with the first hit of the game coming from Peter Marren in the top of the fifth. Jack Grabek cruised through the first four innings, allowing just two baserunners through the first four innings before Lafayette's Trey Durrah doubled through the right side.

The Bison broke through against Lafayette's Michael Dunn, who posted a solid day on the mound as well early on, in the bottom of the sixth inning. Luke Hartman started the inning off with a single to center field, before Dominic Toso laid down a sac bunt to move Hartman.   JohnPaul Bell then walked, before Tyler Wincig blasted a triple down the right field line to score both runners.   Alex Baumann then brought home Wincig on a sac fly to center to extend the lead to 3-0.

Lafayette scored one run in the top of the seventh on a single by Durrah that scored Spencer Rouse. Hunter Robichaux replaced Grabek with one out and the bases loaded, with Grabek receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as he was replaced.

After a sac fly scored one run for the Leopards, Robichaux forced a fly out to left field that forced a sprinting catch from left fielder Tyler Wincig for the third out in the inning.

Freshman Will Gannon continued his excellent play after a solid game against La Salle in the midweek with a home run down the right field line on a 2-2 count to double Bucknell's lead to 4-2.

Robichaux struck out two batters in the top of the eighth, before a double from Dominic Toso to lead off the bottom of the frame was followed up by another walk from Bell.

Wincig singled home Toso with a driven ball up the middle, before Alex Baumann was hit by a pitch and Caleb Broughton drew a bases-loaded walk for Bucknell's other run in the inning.

Robichaux sealed the deal in the ninth with two strikeouts, as Bucknell went on to win 6-2 for its first conference win since a 7-6 win over Army on March 31.

Both Grabek and Gottesman will end their careers in the top ten in strikeouts, with Grabek now up to 179 strikeouts for his career, while Gottesman will move up to 170 career strikeouts.    Gottesman's career strikeouts ranks seventh in Bucknell history, while Grabek will move into fifth all-time after today's game.

The Bison finished with seven hits overall, with Gannon's home run the third of his freshman season.   Wincig posted two hits on the day with three RBI.    Robichaux's save is the fifth of his career, which ties the top ten mark in Bucknell history.

Bucknell will return to action on Sunday for the final two games of the season against Lehigh. Game one is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start, and will be streamed on the Patriot League Network.