April 15, 2008

Final Stats

MEMPHIS--Senior pitcher John Daush (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief to help the Christian Brothers University Bucs hold on for a 15-13 victory over Union Tuesday afternoon at Buc Field.

Daush settled down what had been a wild, back-and-forth game that saw a combined 37 hits, six errors, and eight walks between the two teams.

The Bucs (15-23) pounded out a season-high 21 hits, led by four from senior shortstop Mark Foster (Cordova, Tenn./Cordova HS) and junior centerfielder Rocky Escajadillo (Cordova, Tenn./Cordova HS).

After Union (19-12-1) started the scoring with a two-out Shaun Cozart homer in the top of the first, Foster got the Bucs going with a leadoff single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on an error. Joseph Kaminski (Sherwood, Ark./Little Rock Catholic HS) blasted an RBI double to center, and Will Britt (Oxford, Miss./Oxford HS) dropped a two-run single in right field to give the Bucs a 3-1 edge.

The Bulldogs went back to the long ball as they took their first lead of the afternoon. James Brasfield hit a solo homer in the second inning. In the third, Cozart hit an RBI single that was followed by a three-run shot by Judson Powers, giving Union a 6-3 edge.

The Bucs struck back in a big way in the bottom of the fourth, scoring six runs to retake the lead. Alvino Ramirez (Las Vegas, Nev./Centennial HS) started the inning with a long homer to left field. Four straight Bucs reached on base hits with one out, capped by a Josh Shelton (Rosemark, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) RBI double. After another out, three more Bucs reached. A Britt walk was followed by RBI singles from Escajadillo and Ramirez before the inning finally ended with the Bucs on top 9-6.

The lead would be short-lived, as Union answered with a six-spot of their own in the top of the fifth. With one out, Union rapped out six straight hits, including a two-run triple by Yogi Vanaman and a two-run homer from Allen Williams that gave the Bulldogs a 12-9 lead. Freshman pitcher Justin Hopper (Cordova, Tenn./First Assembly Christian) stopped the bleeding after the Williams homer, retiring five of the final six batters he faced to earn his first career win.

The Bucs tied it right back up in the bottom of the fifth as they sent eight more men to the plate, scoring three runs. Andrew Griffy (Arlington, Tenn./Bolton HS) hit an RBI single, and Escajadillo's two-out, two-run single tied the game at 12.

The Bucs took the lead for good an inning later. Bobby Lawrence (Germantown, Tenn./St. Benedict HS) drew a one-out walk, and singles from Foster and Griffy loaded the bases. Shelton grounded into a force play that scored Lawrence, and a wild throw from second base allowed Foster to score, giving CBU a 14-12 advantage.

The Bulldogs cut the margin in half in the top of the seventh. Vanaman and Andrew Hansen hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. With one out, they moved to second and third on a double-steal, and a wild pitch allowed Vanaman to score.

After the wild pitch, the Bucs turned to Daush, making his fifth appearance out of the bullpen this season. After he came in with runners on first and third and one out, he induced a ground ball for a double play, ending the threat.

The Bucs tacked on an insurance run in the seventh. Escajadillo laid down a bunt single, and infield singles from Ramirez and Matt Trouy (Millington, Tenn./Millington HS) loaded the bases with one out. Lawrence hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Escajadillo for the insurance run.

From there, Daush controlled the action. He shut the Bulldogs down in order in the eighth and seemed to be cruising in the ninth before a one-out hit batter on a 2-2 pitch. A two-base error for the next batter put runners at second and third with one out, but Daush finished his second save with a pair of groundouts.

In addition to the four-hit games from Foster and Escajadillo, Ramirez and Griffy had three hits each. Shelton and Trouy added a pair of hits as well. Escajadillo drove in three runs, while Foster scored four. Lawrence also scored three times in the win.

The Bucs will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they visit Crichton. First pitch at Gagliano Field is set for 4 p.m.