Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Bucknell
Bucknell Sweeps Doubleheader From Army
April 30, 2011 | Baseball
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Steve May and J.T. Watkins both collected four hits apiece, but it was not enough as the Army baseball team dropped both ends of its Patriot League doubleheader versus Bucknell on Saturday afternoon at a sun-drenched Depew Field.
Doug Shribman went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead Bucknell to an 8-4 victory in the opening game, and the Bison rode a six-run fifth inning to a 7-4 win in the nightcap.
Army (18-23, 10-8 PL) drops into second place in the conference standings following today's action, one full game behind first-place Navy (11-7 PL). Despite being swept, Army clinched a spot in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament thanks to Holy Cross' sweep of Lehigh. The Crusaders move into fifth place in the league standings with an 8-10 record, while Lehigh slips into sixth place (7-11). Army cannot finish lower than fourth place in the final conference standings, regardless of what happens on Sunday. Bucknell (23-25, 9-9 PL) moves into a tie with Lafayette (9-9 PL) for third place in the league standings after this afternoon's sweep.
Bucknell jumped on top of Army 3-0 in the first inning of the opening contest as the Bison sent nine men to the plate and scored three unearned runs. Bob Donato began the uprising as he singled to right field with one out, and Shribman followed with an infield single to put runners on first and second. After Gerry Runyan struck out, David Duffett hit a fly ball to deep left field that was misplayed by Shaun Wixted and allowed two runs to score. Duffett, who reached third base on the play, plated Bucknell's third run of the frame as Scott Reed singled sharply through the left side of the infield. The Bison eventually loaded the bases, but Army starter Logan Lee was able to get Robb Scott to fly out to end the inning and minimize the damage.
Army got two runs back in the top of the second inning as the Black Knights pushed across a pair of unearned runs. Watkins reached first base on catcher's interference to lead off the inning. Brent Peterson then singled and reached second base on a throwing error by Bucknell pitcher Ryan Ebner, putting runners on second and third with one out. Watkins scored Army's first run of the game as he scooted home on Wixted's RBI groundout to third base. Peterson, who moved to third on that play, later scored when Ebner uncorked a wild pitch.
Bucknell scored four runs on three hits in the bottom of second inning to extend its lead to 7-3. Drew Constable and Donato hit consecutive singles to open the frame and Shribman delivered a two-run double into the gap in left-center field. Runyan was hit by a pitch and Duffett walked to load the bases with no outs. Reed then drove in Shribman from third base as he bounced out to shortstop, and Matt Lamore followed with a sacrifice fly to send Runyan to the plate.
The Bison tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Lamore walked, advanced to third base on Travis Clark's double and scored on Scott's RBI groundout to shortstop.
Army scored two more unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning to trim Bucknell's lead to 8-4. Clint Moore reached on a fielding error by the Bison shortstop leading off the inning. Ben Koenigsfeld followed with a single and Watkins walked to load the bases. After Cody Murtle fouled out to first base, Peterson drilled an RBI single down the right field line to send Moore to the plate. Wixted then picked up his second RBI of the day as he reached on a fielder's choice groundout.
Ebner (6-1) worked around a one-out single in the seventh to finish off the victory. The junior righty yielded just four unearned runs on seven hits en route to his second complete game of the season. He struck out five Army batters during his outing.
Lee (3-8) was touched for eight runs (five earned) on eight hits in a complete game effort. He walked three and struck out two in the game.
May went 3-for-4 at the plate to pace the Black Knights' eight-hit attack in the opener. Donato collected three hits for Bucknell as the Bison also banged out eight base hits in the contest.
Army opened the scoring in the nightcap as the Black Knights manufactured a run in the top of the third inning. David Darnell doubled into the right-center field gap to begin the frame and he moved over to third base on Zach Price's single. After May lined out to the pitcher, Moore hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give Army the early 1-0 lead.
Bucknell knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning as Runyan singled, advanced to second base on Duffett's sacrifice bunt and scored on Reed's RBI single.
Army reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth inning as the Black Knights moved in front 2-1. Wixted reached second base on an error by the Bucknell third baseman to begin the inning, moved to third base on Darnell's base hit and scored on Price's fielder's choice grounder.
Bucknell took its first lead of the nightcap in the bottom of the fifth as the Bison scored six unearned runs on five hits and one Army error to seize a 7-2 advantage. Clark singled to begin the rally and he moved to second base on Scott's sacrifice bunt. Drew Constable followed with a base hit to advance Clark to third base. After Donato popped out to third, Shribman reached on an error to allow Clark to score the game-tying run. Runyan followed by lofting a two-run triple down the left field line that dropped just out of the reach of Koenigsfeld. Duffett then ripped an RBI single to score Runyan from third base. Reed followed with a base hit and Lamore was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Clark, who hit a two-run single to cap the inning.
Army got two of those runs back in the top of the sixth inning to make it 7-4. Watkins, Peterson, Murtle and Wixted hit consecutive singles to begin the frame with Wixted's base hit plating Watkins with the first run of the inning. Peterson scored the second run of the frame when he scampered home on Darnell's double play groundball.
The Black Knights managed just two hits over the final three innings as Bucknell reliever Alex Cillo kept the Army bats at bay.
Dylan Seeley (2-6) earned the win for Bucknell after giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits in five-plus innings of work. Cillo tossed four scoreless frames to earn his first save of the season. He struck out three and did not issue a walk.
Nick Dignacco (0-2) was saddled with the loss for Army after yielding six runs (one earned) on seven hits in 4.2 innings. He recorded four strikeouts and walked three during the contest.
Watkins was 3-for-4 to lead Army offensively in the nightcap. Darnell registered a pair of hits for the Black Knights, who held an 11-10 edge in hits.
Runyan and Duffett each recorded two hits apiece for Bucknell in the second game, with Runyan and Clark each driving in two runs.
Army and Bucknell will wrap up their four-game series on Sunday (May 1) with another doubleheader scheduled for noon.
Game Notes: Army falls to 56-41 all-time versus Bucknell ... Steve May has hit safely in seven straight games ... Logan Lee leads the Army pitching staff with four complete games this season ... Army wore its traditional road gray uniforms and black caps for both of today's games.
