FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES
Game 1: Bucknell 3 Holy Cross 0
Game 2: Bucknell 7 Holy Cross 6
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell baseball squad rode clutch performances by senior Mathew Wilson (Toronto, Ontario/Northern S.S.) and sophomore Ben Yoder (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley) to a doubleheader sweep of Holy Cross on Sunday afternoon on Depew Field. Wilson fanned 11 batters in a complete game shutout effort as the Bison defeated the Crusaders, 3-0, in game one, while Yoder registered a walk off single in the bottom of the ninth in game two, leading the Orange and Blue to a 7-6 victory in that contest. Bucknell, which is now 7-1 at home this season, moves to 17-16-2 overall, 7-5 in league play, while the Crusaders fall to 14-19 and 7-5 in the Patriot League.
In his first outing in nearly a month, Wilson opened game one by striking out the side, stranding two Holy Cross base runners, who recorded two of the team’s four hits in the contest in the top of the first. The right-handed hurler then followed up by fanning all three batters he faced in the second.
The Bison got on the board in their next turn at-bat as sophomore John Avanzino (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) led off with his ninth home run of the season.
Bucknell added two more insurance runs in the sixth as senior Jason Buursma (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside School) and Avanzino both walked with one out, setting up a two-run double by junior Dane Grandizio (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg) that scored Buursma and junior Hunter George (Ross, Calif./The Branson School), who pinch ran for Avanzino.
Wilson, who equaled the program career shutouts record with his fourth as a member of the Orange and Blue, scattered just four hits over seven innings of work to pick up the win (2-1), with one walk and a career-high 11 strikeouts. Matt O’Brien pitched all six innings for Holy Cross and suffered the setback (0-3), allowing three runs on fourth hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
The Crusaders began game two with a run on two hits in the top of the first. Jake Gorman doubled to left center and later crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
In the bottom half of the frame, however, the Bison promptly took the run back with a solo shot by Yoder, his first career home run. Bucknell then went on top, 3-1 in the second. With two down in the frame, sophomore Andrew Brouse (Kreamer, Pa./Midd-West) knocked in seniors Mark Angelo (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) and Chris Pieper (Port Washington, N.Y./Schreiber), who preceded him with back-to-back one out singles.
Holy Cross responded with a three-run third to pull in front by a 4-3 margin. Gorman and Brendan McCrea started things off with two straight singles. Then with one out, Eric Oxford ripped a double down the right field line to plate the pair. Nick Ciardiello followed up with an RBI groundout to bring home Brendan Akashian, who walked earlier in the frame.
Bucknell managed to tie things up at four in the bottom of the fifth as Brouse doubled and came home on a fielder’s choice, with Yoder picking up the RBI on the play. The Orange and Blue then went ahead on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Ben Allen (Port Royal, Pa./Juniata) in the seventh that scored senior Shawn Hirsch (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) after Hirsch began the inning with a leadoff single.
In the top of the eighth, the Crusaders fought back to even the score at five. With two outs, a single by Billy Cupelo and an RBI double by McCrea yielded the tying run. Holy Cross added another in the top of the ninth for a 6-5 advantage. Akashian started off the inning with a walk and Oxfo
The Bison rallied for two in the bottom of the ninth to take game two by a 7-6 margin. The first batter of the frame, Hirsch, reached with an infield hit, and was replaced by a pinch runner, George, at first. Pinch hitting for Brouse, sophomore B.J. LaRosa (Jacksonville, Fla./Episcopal) advanced George to second with a ground out. Allen and Yoder followed with the game-tying and game-winning singles, Allen bringing home George and Yoder plating Allen with a single up the middle.
In relief of freshman Dylan Seeley (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary), senior David Solan (Newark, Del./Newark) recorded the victory (1-2), tossing 1.1 innings for the Orange and Blue and allowing one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Ryan George took the loss (2-3) for the Crusaders. He gave up three runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts over four innings on the mound.
Brouse finished a team-best 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored for Bucknell in game two, while Allen went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored and Yoder hit 2-for-5, drove in three and scored once. Oxford paced Holy Cross’ offense with a 3-for-5 performance and three RBI.
The Bison will continue their nine-game homestand on Thursday, Apr. 17, against Penn State Erie at 3:30 p.m.
Game 1: Army 2 Navy 1
Game 2: Army 10 Navy 2
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Cole White threw a complete-game one-hitter and a pair of freshmen knocked in runs as the Army baseball team earned its fifth straight “Star” with a doubleheader sweep of Navy, Sunday in Patriot League action at an overcast Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.
Freshman Mike Greco and Kevin McKague knocked in runs in a 2-1 eight-inning victory and Ben Koenigsfeld earned the win in the 10-2 second game as Army won the series with Navy for the fifth consecutive time. The series will conclude with a nine-inning game on Monday.
The Black Knights improved to 14-18 overall and 6-5 in league action while Navy fell to 20-16 and 6-5 in conference play. Navy was leading the conference standings heading into the weekend.
Army opened the series with a 14-3 win on Saturday and won their seventh straight game in Annapolis with a pair of victories on Sunday.
In the opener, White outdueled Mitch Harris in an extra-inning affair in which the winning run was scored in the top of the eighth on a run-scoring single by McKague.
In the second game, Army scored at least two runs in the second, third and fourth innings with a 12-hit attack against five Navy pitchers on the way to the eight-run victory.
“I’m pleased but more proud,” Army head coach Joe Sottolano said. “To have our senior class all play an integral part in the victories and go out that way is very special.:
White earned his first win of the season with his best performance to date. He allowed just a fifth-inning double, struck out six and walked five and beat Navy for the second consecutive year
Harris, the Navy ace who sported a 1.35 earned run average, allowed two earned runs in 7.2 innings of work. He walked three and struck out seven.
“Cole really competed today,” Sottolano said. “He was throwing his breaking ball and slider for strikes and did a great job. And, he swung the bat very well.”
Koenigsfeld threw eight innings, scattered nine hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter while improving to 3-3.
Senior catcher Chris Simmons scored three runs, had two hits and knocked in two runs in the second game while freshman Clint Moore had two hits and two runs batted in. Greco also had two RBI in the second game.
“What a great job by Chris Simmons,” said Sottolano. “He called every game this weekend, swung the bat extremely well and blocked everything.”
In the first game, Army had a runner on in the top of the inning as White was hit by a pitch and stole second but Harris had his second strikeout of the season to end the inning.
The Black Knights manufactured the first run in the second inning. J.P. Polchinski worked a full count walk, went to second on a Simmons sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a wild pitch. Greco hit a slow roller in front of home plate and Polchinski came around to score when the catcher bobbled the ball for a 1-0 lead.
Navy had its first runner in the bottom of the second when Michael Speciale was hit by a pitch. White responded with a strikeout looking and a pop out in foul territory to end the inning.
White walked the leadoff hitter in the top of the fourth on four pitches but the No. 3 hitter, Thomas Hamilton hit into a 5-4-3 double play and a fly out ended the inning.
Greco had the game’s first hit in the top of the fifth with a sharp single to right before a strikeout and groundout ended the inning.
Navy had its first hit in the bottom of the fifth and tied the game. Speciale walked on four pitches and moved to third on a double by Kendall Bolt. A sacrifice fly to right scored Speciale and sent Bolt to third. White got the second out of the inning on a great play on a ball up the middle and struck out the leadoff hitter to end the inning with the game tied at 1.
For the second consecutive inning, Army had a base runner aboard when Moore led off the sixth with a single up the middle. Following a sacrifice bunt by Andy Ernesto, Moore went to third on a ground out but a line drive out preserved the tie.
White walked his fourth batter of the day with two outs in the sixth inning but induced a flyout to end the inning.
Simmons singled in the top of the seventh inning for the Black Knights’ third hit but a flyout and fielders’ choice ended the frame.
Army scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning and chased Harris in the process. With two outs, Ernesto walked and White fouled off two pitches in a full count before earning the free pass and ending Harris’ day. Drew Carlson came on to pitch and worked the count against McKague to 1-2. With the base runners moving on a double-steal attempt that drew the third baseman to cover third, McKague singled through the vacated infield hole to plate Ernesto for a 2-1 Army lead.
White made a great play on a ground ball back up the middle and posted his sixth strikeout to open the eighth. Following a walk, a ground out ended the game and earned the “Star” for the Black Knights.
In the nightcap, Army opened the scoring in the top of the second, again with two outs. McKague reached on an error and one out later, Simmons singled. Following a strikeout, Kyle Stramara was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tony Capozzi worked a walk to force in McKague and then Moore singled to right to plate two more runs for a 3-0 Army lead.
The Black Knights upped their advantage to 5-0 thanks to another clutch two-out hit by Greco. With one out, McKague singled. One out later, Simmons drew a walk. Greco then drilled a double to left field, scoring McKague and Simmons before a strikeout ended the inning.
Navy cut its deficit to three with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Nick Driscoll led off the inning with a double, took third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch. Speciale then tripled and scored on the second out of the inning, a ground ball to second, that made the contest 5-2 in favor of Army.
Army took advantage of a second Navy error to score three runs in the fourth. Moore led off the inning with a long double to the corner in left field and moved to third when Andy Ernesto bunted for a basehit. White lined a shot to the second baseman, which made the first out but threw the ball away trying to complete the double play at first. The error allowed Moore to score and Ernesto to go to third. Ernesto later scored on a wild pitch, McKague doubled and scored easily when Simmons blasted a triple to the fence in right-center field chasing starting pitcher Mark McCoy.
Navy had two runners on in the fifth inning but Koenigsfeld registered two strikeouts to end the inning and hold the 8-2 Army lead.
Army wasn’t done scoring runs yet. J.P. Polchinski led off the seventh with a single and moved to second on a balk. Simmons’ third hit of the game of the game was a sharp single to right that scored Polchinski without a throw and ended the day of relief pitcher Sam Long. Two outs later, Simmons came around to score on an error by the shortstop to reach the double digit mark in runs for the tenth time this season. It was also the 16th time Army had double digit hits this season.
Koenigsfeld remained in control, working ahead and keep zeroes on the scoreboard. Pinch-hitter Jonathan Berkowicz doubled before a flyout ended the inning. Navy also had a runner on in the eighth but a double play kept the score 10-2.
Sean Rainbird threw a scoreless ninth inning to conclude the sweep.
The series will conclude with a nine-inning contest Monday beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Game 1: Lehigh 3 Lafayette 2
Game 2: Lafayette 17 Lehigh 11
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh and Lafayette split its doubleheader on Sunday at the baseball field on the Goodman Campus. The Mountain Hawks won the first game 3-2 in eight innings, while the Leopards came away with a 17-11 win in the second game. Liam O’Connor had four RBI on the day to pace the Brown and White. The Mountain Hawks now stand at 16-22 (3-9) on the year, while Lafayette is 18-13 (6-6).
“In game one I thought we got a very good outing from Andrew Berger, and came through with some clutch hits late,” said head coach Sean Leary. “Game two just got away from us. It was a very frustrating loss after such an emotional win in the previous game.”
Lafayette scored the first run of the game in the top of the first on an RBI single to center field by Chris Luick. Lehigh responded in the bottom of the third on a two-out single by Joe Bellini to keep the inning alive. Joe Ercolano followed that up with another single, and then Billy Goldman brought Bellini home on a single back up the middle to tie the game at 1-1.
The Leopards took the lead back in the sixth inning on a sac fly to center field by Tom Ambrosole. The Mountain Hawks had a chance to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning, as they put runners on first and second with just one away, but could not capitalize on the opportunity.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Billy Swenson drew a one-out walk, then pinch runner Danny Egly stole second and moved up to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Bellini delivered an infield single to score Egly and Lehigh tied the game up at 2-2.
Lafayette threatened in the top of the eighth putting runners on first and second with two outs, but Jordan Warncke came into relieve Berger and got Jeff Butler to groundout to shortstop to end the inning.
Goldman led off the bottom of the eighth with a single, his third of the game, which dropped in right on the left field line, and then he moved up to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Brendan McGaheran. Andy Russell came through with the game-winning hit, a single back up the middle that scored Goldman from second.
Warncke (1-1) picked up his first win of the year, facing just one batter in the eighth. Berger earned a no-decision despite pitching very effectively. He allowed just two runs on seven hits in 7.2 innings of work.
Steve Roberts (1-1) was given the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings.
In the second game, Lafayette started the game by putting up two runs on the board in the top of the first. The Mountain Hawks cut the lead in half on a sac fly by O’Connor in the third, to score Goldman.
The Leopards broke the game open in the fourth, batting around the order and scoring four runs. Lafayette added two more runs in the next inning, to take an 8-1 lead. The Mountain Hawks got two of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth on back-to-back two-out doubles by Ercolano and O’Connor.
In the sixth inning Lafayette batted around the order again, this time putting up nine runs to jump out to a 17-3 advantage. Lehigh tried for a comeback attempt, scoring five runs in the seventh and three more in the ninth, but it was not enough, as Lafayette held on for the 17-11 victory.
Greg Mortka (0-2) was credited with the loss, pitching one-third of an inning, surrendering six runs on five hits. Corey Shea (2-0) earned the win, giving up eight runs in six innings of work.
The Mountain Hawks return to the diamond on Tuesday when they host NJIT in a non-league game. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. from the Goodman Campus.
