May 11, 2008

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Freshman Drew Constable (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) knocked in the winning run and Bison hurlers freshman Eric Jarrett (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) and senior Jason Buursma (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside School) combined for a two-hit shutout as the Bucknell baseball team defeated Army, 1-0, to advance to the Patriot League championship against Navy next week. The Bison are now 24-22-2 and will play in the championship series for the second time in the past three seasons, while the Black Knights fall to 24-25.

With the squads locked up in a scoreless battle, Bucknell managed to get a runner to third for the first time in the contest for either side, loading the bases in the top of the sixth. Senior Mark Angelo (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) started things off with a one-out single, while Buursma and sophomore Andrew Brouse (Kreamer, Pa./Midd-West) were both hit by pitches. The Bison would not score, however, as Army starter Cole White worked out of a 3-1 count to sophomore John Avanzino (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) and induced a ground ball off the bat of senior Ed Rubbo (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) to escape the jam.

The Orange and Blue finally broke through for the only run of the afternoon with two down in the top of the eighth. Angelo led off the inning with a walk, stole second and Constable sent a single through the left side to bring him home.

Bucknell starter Jarrett was virtually flawless through 5.2 scoreless innings as he surrendered just two hits, walked one and struck out eight. Buursma threw the remaining 3.1 hitless innings and logged the victory (7-3), striking out three.

The Bison, as the No. 4-seed in the tournament, will travel to No. 2 Navy for a best-of-three championship series. Dates and times have not yet been announced.