Bucknell University
3-9
Rhode Island
3-7
Bison Baseball Storms Back for 8-6 Win over Rhode Island in Series Opener
3/11/2023 6:02:00 PM | Baseball
Some shaky defense led to five unearned runs for the Rams (3-7) in the first two innings, but Chris DiFiore pitched five strong innings to keep the Bison (3-9) in the game until the bats got going. Sean Keys' two-out, two-run double capped a five-run fifth to tie the game, and then the Bison went ahead with three straight two-out hits in the sixth.
Nikhil Patel, Connor Vucovich, and Ryan Osinski covered the final four innings out of the bullpen, allowing just a run on two hits. The junior Patel (1-0) earned his first collegiate win, and the freshman Osinski picked up the final four outs for his first career save.
Bucknell pounded out a season-high 14 hits. In addition to Sherwin's first three-hit game of the season, Jacob Corson, Tyler Dunn, Jake Wortman, and Kyle Lyons added two hits apiece.
The Bison defense was as frosty as the weather early in the game, although they made up for it later with a number of key plays in the field. The first three Rhode Island batters in the top of the first reached on errors, and they all came around to score. Another error to start the second led to two more runs, with Billy Butler's RBI single staking Rhode Island to a 5-0 lead.
Rams starter Sean Sposato allowed hits to the first to Bucknell hitters in the bottom of the first, the second of which was a sharp grounder off the bat of Corson that caught him on the foot. After a brief injury delay, Sposato locked down the Bison without another hit until the fifth.
A key play came in the top of the fourth. Rhode Island had two on with one out and the .484-hitting Mark Anderson at the plate, but Bison left fielder Jacob Terwilliger made a great lunging catch in the gap and then doubled the runner off second base to end the inning.
What a play by Jacob Terwilliger! He turns this lunging catch into an inning-ending double play in the 4th. #rayBucknell | #PLTop3
— Bucknell Baseball ⚾️ (@Bucknell_BB) March 11, 2023
Watch: https://t.co/QGshQ6qvVu@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/KcJKc4DzD2
The bottom third of the order got the fifth-inning rally going. With one out, Billy Kender, Wortman, and Lyons all singled. Sherwin delivered the first run with a base hit to right, and then Corson hit a ground ball up the middle that deflected off the glove of a diving shortstop Alex Ramirez. Even though the ball stayed on the infield, Lyons was able to score from second to make it a 5-3 game. Two batters later, Keys roped a double into the right-field corner to make it 5-5. Dunn followed with the seventh hit of the inning, but Rhode Island center fielder Mark Coley cut down the potential go-ahead run at the plate to end the inning.
Patel stranded two runners in the sixth, retiring Anderson on a fly ball to end the threat. Then in the bottom half, the Bison took their first lead of the day.
With two outs and no one on base, Wortman and Lyons singled, and then Sherwin split the right-center gap to plate both runs.
A terrific play from Kender saved a run in the top of the seventh. With two outs and a runner at second, Kender dove in the hole to smother a ground ball ticketed for right field, and then he scrambled to his feet and gunned down Butler trying to score.
What a heads-up play by Billy Kender! He saves the run with a diving stop and then nails the runner at the plate to end the 7th. Bison still on top 7-5. #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Baseball ⚾️ (@Bucknell_BB) March 11, 2023
Watch: https://t.co/QGshQ6qvVu@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/x4KHbbd1nS
Bucknell made it 8-5 in the eighth when Terwilliger beat out an infield hit, and Dunn came all the way around from first when the throw from third was errant.
Rhode Island picked up a run on a two-out wild pitch in the eighth, but Osinski came out of the bullpen to strand two runners. Then with two outs and none on in the top of the ninth, Ramirez singled into the left-center gap, but a well-executed relay nabbed him at second trying to stretch it into a double.
BISON WIN! We throw out another runner on the basepaths to end it. Great comeback from a 5-0 deficit, and a great way to start the three-game series. #rayBucknell @PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/O2QyWxCFnp
— Bucknell Baseball ⚾️ (@Bucknell_BB) March 11, 2023
DiFiore was charged with five runs – all unearned – while striking out five in his five innings of work.
Bucknell and Rhode Island will play a doubleheader on Sunday starting at noon. Both games will be seven innings, and both will air live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Patel, Nikhil (1-0)
L: Bo Brutti (0-1)
S: Osinski, Ryan (1)
Batting:
2B: Eric Genther 1
RBI: Addison Kopack 1 ; Billy Butler 1 ; Eric Genther 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mark Coley 1 ; Addison Kopack 2 ; Michael Anderson 1 ; Connor Grotyohann 1 ; David Marchetti 1
SB: Mark Coley 2 ; Addison Kopack 1 ; Billy Butler 1
HBP: Mark Coley 1
Batting:
2B: Sherwin, Anthony 1 ; Keys, Sean 1
RBI: Sherwin, Anthony 3 ; Corson, Jacob 2 ; Keys, Sean 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sherwin, Anthony 1 ; Corson, Jacob 1 ; Dunn, Tyler 1 ; Kender, Billy 1 ; Wortman, Jake 2 ; Lyons, Kyle 2
