April 19, 2014

4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Bucknell 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 11 0 Lafayette 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 2 Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) 1

EASTON, Pa. - Behind a strong pitching performance by Dan Weigel, Bucknell finished on the positive side of a 4-1 decision against Lafayette in game two of Saturday's doubleheader. The Bison took game one earlier in the day, 4-0.

Bucknell's win improved its record to 21-15-1 on the season and 11-3 in the conference. The setback dropped Lafayette to 10-21 and 3-8 in the Patriot League.

Through the first six innings, Weigel and Lafayette right-hander Mitch Leeds went toe-to-toe and the Bison grinded out a 2-1 edge.

Lafayette got on the board in its initial trip to the plate when Andrew Santomauro and Jackson Kramer started the inning with back-to-back singles. Two batters later after a lineout and a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position, Tim Lazor's ground ball to shortstop allowed Santomauro to scamper home from third to put the Leopards in front 1-0.

Consecutive base knocks, a double by Danny Rafferty and a single from Greg Wasikowski, quickly tied the game in the top of the third inning. Brett Smith's infield hit and a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position with one out. After Leeds plunked Joe Ogren to load the bases, Jon Mayer hit a fly ball to center that was deep enough to bring home Wasikowski from third. Leeds punched out Anthony Gingerelli to end the inning after Bucknell secured the 2-1 cushion.

Lafayette was limited to two hits from the second through the eighth inning, Alex Woinski's leadoff double in the fourth and a single by Andrew Santomauro in the eighth. Weigel got out of the fourth unscathed with a strikeout, groundout and flyout and used a double play in the eighth inning to erase Santomauro.

Leeds came out for the seventh inning and struck out the first two Bucknell batters before running into trouble. Ogren's double to right and Mayer's triple that fell between Santomauro and left fielder Michael Coniglio padded the Bucknell lead (3-1). At that juncture, Cory Spera was called on to pitch out of the Leopards' bullpen. Spera ended up striking out Rob Krentzman to end the inning, but that was after a throwing error by catcher Parker Hills allowed Mayer to score from third.

Trailing 4-1 in the ninth, Woinski's standup double down the left field line preceded a single by Lazor that fell inside the chalk in right field and put runners on the corners with nobody out. A popup by Hills gave the Bison the first out, before a lineout by Tyler Hudson to shortstop allowed Bucknell to turn two and end the game when Lazor was doubled off first base.

Weigel scattered six hits over his nine innings, allowing one run and striking out four in the complete-game effort. The left-hander walked one as he went to 4-4 on the year.

All four runs (three earned) were charged to Leeds, who allowed nine hits over 6 2/3 innings on the mound. Leeds (0-4) fanned six and walked two Bucknell hitters in the loss. Spera tossed the final 2 1/3 innings and let up two hits while striking out a pair.

Lafayette and Bucknell resume the series on Sunday with a pair of doubleheaders beginning at 1 p.m. First pitch from Kamine Stadium is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and the game can be seen live on the Patriot League Network.