April 27, 2003

Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)

LEWISBURG, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Bucknell used to strong pitching performances two sweep Lafayette in Patriot League baseball action on Sunday. The hosts won game one 2-1 and shut out the Leopards 3-0 in game two.

The Leopards are now 12-18 overall and 7-10 in conference play while Bucknell improves to 23-12, 13-5. With two wins on Sunday coupled with a Navy loss, Bucknell earns the top seed in the Patriot League Tournament and the accompanying right to host the event. Navy has also clinched a place in the three-team tournament. The Leopards (7-10) are tied with Lehigh (7-10) for fourth place, but are just a half-game behind Army (8-10).

In game one, Bucknell scored both of its runs in the second inning off Lafayette starter James Duer. Kyle Walter started the inning with a single up the middle. Phil Bunting then singled and Walter advanced home on an error by Lafayette leftfielder Russ Giglio. Bunting moved to third on a single another single and ater stole home to give Bucknell a 2-0 lead.

Lafayette cut the lead to one, 2-1, in the top of the third. Eric Vacca reached on a single to center. An infield single by Giglio put Vacca in scoring position. Jeff Rodgers drove in Vacca with a single to right, but also ended the inning trying to stretch his hit into a double.

The Leopards had a chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh. One-out singles by Adam Bucci (2-for-3) and Craig Alexander left runners on first and second. Bucknell brought in ace closer Phil Futrick who got Matt Tambellini and Vacca for the final outs of the game en route to his 10th save of the season.

Bucknell starter Kevin Miller threw six and a third innings and allowed just one run to improve to 7-0 on the season. He scattered seven hits and struck out three. Duer (1-4) was hit with the loss despite allowing just two runs on six hits over four innings. Hank Fichtner pitched the fifth and sixth and did not allow a hit to the seven batters he faced.

In game two, Bucknell starter R.J. Grant (5-3) and reliever Matt Daley held Lafayette to just two hits in a 3-0 loss.

Grant threw six innings, struck out four and walked five. Daley came on to throw the seventh to earn his fourth save.

The Bison scored all three of their runs in the first inning off Lafayette starter Marcus Ward. Pete Wolff doubled in a run and an infield single by Walter made it 2-0. Bucknell added another run on a double steal to lead 3-0 after one inning. The Leopards left eight runners on base in game two, including the top of the second when they stranded three runners after loading the bases with two outs. Matt Skellan and Rob Fioretti had the team's only hit in game two.

Ward (3-2) took the loss, giving up three runs on six hits, three walks and three strikeouts.

The two teams return to action tomorrow at Bucknell when they will play the final two games of the series. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.