March 13, 2008

Box Score

BRADENTON, Fla. - Freshman Dylan Seeley (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) had a solid first collegiate start on the mound for the Orange and Blue, but saw it spoiled by the Catamounts as the Bucknell baseball team fell to Vermont, 9-7, on Thursday afternoon on Manatee Community College's Wynn Field. With the loss, the Bison's record levels at 5-5-2, while UVM improves to 3-5.

Seeley started for Bucknell but did not earn a decision in the contest despite allowing only two runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts over six innings of work.

After the squads played three scoreless innings to open the contest, Vermont broke through for two in the top of the fourth. Miguel Magrass led off with a home run to centerfield and Jeff Nolet drove in Kyle Henry with an RBI double.

Bucknell answered back in the bottom half of the frame with two runs of its own. Senior Mark Angelo (Quakertown, Pa./Quaketown) drew a leadoff walk and scored on a single by sophomore Andrew Brouse (Kreamer, Pa./Midd-West). Sophomore John Avanzino (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) accounted for the second run, coming home on an infield hit by senior Shawn Hirsch (Morristown, N.J./Morristown).

The Bison then took the lead in their next turn at-bat. Junior Dane Grandizio (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomburg) blasted a triple to right center to begin the inning and Angelo, the next batter for the Orange and Blue, plated him with a single up the middle.

In the top of the seventh, the Catamounts proceeded to take a 6-3 lead. Nolet opened the frame with his second double of the day, moved to third on a single by Eric Fredette and stole home. With three on and two out, Matt Duffy ripped a bases-clearing triple that brought in Fredette, Ethan Paquette and Magrass.

Bucknell managed to get one of the runs back in the bottom of seventh as Grandizio led off with a single and scored on a single through the left side by Brouse.

However, the top of the eighth, Vermont came up with another big two-out hit, a three-run home run by Justin Milo that extended the lead to 9-4.

The Bison inched closer once more in the bottom of the eighth. With two away in the frame, Angelo doubled in both sophomore Ben Allen (Port Royal, Pa./Juniata), who reached with a single and Grandizio, who reached with a walk. Avanzino threatened to add more for the Orange and Blue with a screamer to left, but Todd Allen denied him of a hit with a running grab to end the inning.

Bucknell senior Jason Buursma (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside School) capped off the scoring in the contest, rocketing his fourth home run of the season to center with two-out in the bottom of the ninth.

Freshman Matt Foley (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence) relieved Seeley and took the loss (0-1) for the Orange and Blue. He worked 0.2 innings and gave up two runs on two hits with no walks and no strikeouts. Starter Eric Thompson picked up the win (1-0) for the Catamounts, going 6.2 innings and surrendering four runs on 13 hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Matt Duffy collected a save for UVM, pitching the final 1.1 innings and allowing one run on one hit without walking or striking out a batter.

Angelo and Grandizio led Bucknell at the plate, batting 3-for-4, while Angelo drove in three and Grandizio scored three. Brouse went 2-for-5 with two RBI.

The Bison will be back in action tomorrow, Friday Mar. 14, with a game against Akron at 3 p.m. at IMG Field in Bradenton, Fla.