April 8, 2008

Box Score

TOWSON, Md. - Sophomore Ben Allen (Port Royal, Pa./Juniata) connected for his first career home run, but the Bucknell baseball team was outscored by Towson, 14-5, on Tuesday afternoon at Schuerholtz Park. With the loss, the Bison are now 14-15-2 on the season, while the Tigers move to 15-16.

Towson began the contest with a 12-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, two runs came across as Nick Natoli led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Brian Conley and Kevin Collins crossed the plate on a ground ball double play.

The Tigers' third run came in on a double play as well, with Greg Fumanek scoring after leading off the second inning with a double.

Then in its next three turns at bat, Towson went on to add nine to its total on five home runs, including two by Conley and a three-run shot by Furmanek.

Bucknell managed to collect its first run of the contest in the top of the sixth. With one out, sophomore John Avanzino (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) singled up the middle, went to third on a double by junior Zachary Brown (Stroudsburg, Pa./Notre Dame) and scored on a wild pitch.

However, the Tigers promptly took the run back in the bottom half of the frame. Steve Freinberg started things off with a single up the middle and later crossed the plate on a fielder's choice ground ball.

Allen hit a solo shot in the top of the seventh and the Bison went on to tally three more in the eighth. Avanzino singled up the middle for his second hit of the day, while Brown plated him with a single of his own. Sophomore Andrew Brouse (Kreamer, Pa./Midd-West) walked and scored on fielder's choice with senior Ed Rubbo (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) earning the RBI. Rubbo eventually came home on a wild pitch for Bucknell's final run of the contest.

Towson completed the scoring in the bottom of the eighth as Natoli drove in Furmanek with an RBI single.

Sophomore Doug Shribman (Marblehead, Mass./Belmont Hill School) started on the mound for the Orange and Blue and took the loss (0-2), surrendering three runs on six hits over two innings of work. Jon Dupski picked up the win (1-6) for the Tigers as he held the Bison scoreless through five innings and scattered six hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

Conley finished 3-for-5 at the plate for Towson with four RBI and two runs scored, while Furmanek went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI. Four Bison finished the contest with two hits apiece, including sophomore Ben Yoder (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley) who was 2-for-3. Allen and Brown batted 2-for-4, both contributing one RBI each.

Bucknell will be back in action this Saturday, Apr. 12, as the squad will play host to Holy Cross in a Patriot League doubleheader beginning at noon on Depew Field.