March 22, 2008

Box Score

DOVER, Del. - The Bucknell baseball team tallied 12 hits, but managed to score just four runs after leaving 13 runners on base as the squad fell to Long Island, 6-4, on Delaware State's Soldier Field this Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Bison fall to 6-8-2, while the Blackbirds improve to 6-12.

Bucknell took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as sophomore John Avanzino (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) opened up with a single to left and scored on a hit up the middle by senior Shawn Hirsch (Morristown, N.J./Morristown). Then in the third, the Bison added another as sophomore Ben Allen (Port Royal, Pa./Juniata) walked and later came home on an RBI groundout by senior Mark Angelo (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown).

However, in the bottom of the frame, Long Island tied the score at two with back-to-back home runs by James Jones and Gerard Tingos.

Then in the fourth, the Blackbirds went in front, 4-2. Greg DeSantis started things off with a single and eventually crossed the plate on an error. Sam Sciamarelli came in on the next play, an RBI single to center by Dan Pirillo after reaching with a walk earlier in the inning.

The Orange and Blue rallied to tie the score at four in the top of the seventh. Senior Ed Rubbo roped a two-out single to drive in both senior Jason Buursma (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside School), who reached with a walk, and Avanzino, who singled.

The Blackbirds promptly took the runs back, putting two on the board in their next turn at-bat. Frank DiMasi singled up the middle with one out and came home on an RBI groundout by DeSantis. Anthony Amatucci was hit by a pitch and was driven in by Eric Hinkle for what would be the final run of the contest.

Bucknell threatened to make a comeback in the ninth as Buursma and senior Austin Turban (Northfield, Ill./New Trier) both reached base to start the inning, but John Slootmaker came in for Long Island and retired the next three Bison hitters in order to pick up the save (1).

In relief of freshman Dylan Seeley (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) who threw 3.1 innings and gave up four runs, three earned on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts, senior David Solan (Newark, Del./Newark) took the loss (0-2). Solan surrendered two runs on one hit in three innings on the mound, striking out two and walking none.

John Masklee earned the victory (1-2) for the Blackbirds as he worked two innings and allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout.

Four batters combined for eight of Bucknell's 12 hits as Buursma was 2-for-3, Avanzino and Rubbo both hit 2-for-4 and Hirsch went 2-for-5 at the plate. Jones was the lone member of the Blackbirds to post a multiple-hit performance as he finished the game 2-for-5.

The Bison return to action tomorrow, Mar. 23, closing out the weekend with a doubleheader against Delaware State beginning at noon.