Nine-Run Eighth Inning Leads No. 22 Campbell Past Bucknell, 17-7

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Bucknell baseball team trailed No. 22 Campbell 8-7 with two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Fighting Camels went on to score nine runs in the frame on the way to a 17-7 win in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night at Jim Perry Stadium.

The Bison (6-6) trailed 8-1 heading to the seventh inning, but back-to-back three-run innings got them right back in the game. Bucknell loaded the bases with three walks in the seventh, and Tyler Dunn came through with a two-out, two-run double to bring home Chris Morabito and Brady Karp. Sean Keys scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-4.

In the eighth, Bucknell punished the Fighting Camels (9-4) for a two-out error that kept the inning alive. Keys followed the error with a two-run double on a 1-2 count, and then Grant Voytovich singled home Keys to make it 8-7. Voytovich moved up to third on a wild pitch, but Jeremy Wiegman retired Dunn on a ground ball to first base to end the inning.

Conor Vucovich came out of the Bison bullpen in the bottom of the eighth and quickly retired the dangerous Grant Knipp and Payton Howard on a strikeout and flyout. Graeme Carroll, who has been outstanding in relief for the Bison this season, relieved Vucovich after a walk, and two softly hit ground balls started the deluge. After an infield hit by Dalen Thompson, second baseman Billy Kender made a nice stop on a ground ball up the middle but his flip to second was late, and the runners just kept on going. Peyton Bonds scored from second on the play, and then Campbell added runs on two bases-loaded walks, an error, and Howard's grand slam.

Bucknell took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Jacob Corson led off the game with a double and later scored on Dunn's ground ball. Campbell tied it in the second on a solo homer by Andrew Schuldt, and then the Camels surged ahead with four in the third against starter Tyler O'Neill (0-2).

Voytovich collected two hits, Dunn drove in three runs, and Keys plated a pair. The Bison finished with six hits but worked the three Campbell pitchers for nine walks. Billy Kender tied a team record with four walks, becoming the seventh Bison to accomplish the feat and the first since current assistant coach Brett Smith in 2014.

Howard finished the night 4-for-6 with five RBIs, while Schuldt went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Zach Sabers improved to 3-0 on the season after allowing just an unearned run on two hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked four.

Game two of the three-game series will be played on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Nine-Run Eighth Inning Leads No. 22 Campbell Past Bucknell, 17-7

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Team Stats

Grant Voytovich

Jacob Corson

Sean Keys

Tyler Dunn

Players Mentioned

Graeme Carroll

Jacob Corson

Tyler Dunn

Brady Karp

Billy Kender

Sean Keys

Chris Morabito

Tyler O'Neill

Grant Voytovich