Columbia
BUCKNELL (Game 1)
Baseball Completes Four-Game Series Sweep of Bucknell with Late-Inning Heroics
3/28/2010 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
NEW YORK -- Columbia led 5-2 after six innings in the opener, but Bucknell scored three times to tie it in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings. In the eighth, Alex Ferrera drilled the first pitch he saw into left field to plate Alex Godshall with the winning run, giving Columbia its third straight win in the series with Bucknell.
In the nightcap, Columbia fell behind 5-2 going into the eighth inning and came back to win it 6-5 in the ninth. Nick Ferraresi's two-run homer in the eighth got the Lions within a run and Columbia used four walks and a game-winning sacrifice fly by Alexander Aurrichio to score two more in the ninth to complete the four-game sweep.
Game One
The Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, with the big blow coming on Alexander Aurrichio's fifth home run of the season, a towering blast over the left field wall.
Bucknell got a run back in the second against Lion starter Pat Lowery, cutting the lead to 3-1.
Jason Banos then connected for his first home run of the season in the third off Bucknell starter Steve Carlin, a blast over the right field wall.
Lowery hung up zeroes in the third and fourth, allowing the Lions to take a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Dario Pizzano drove a triple off the right field wall to lead off the inning and Alex Ferrera lofted a deep fly ball to left to score Pizzano with Columbia's fifth run of the game.
Bucknell made it 5-2 in the sixth on Doug Shribman's RBI double but the Lions still held a three-run lead going to the seventh.
Four Columbia errors led to three unearned runs in the seventh as Bucknell tied the game at 5-5. Geoff Whitaker did escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam to keep the game tied at 5-5, giving Columbia a chance to win it.
After Derek Squires pitched a scoreless eighth, Columbia put a runner on second with one out after a Bison error started the frame. After Pizzano was intentionally walked, Ferrera lined the first pitch he saw past the shortstop into left field for the game-winning hit, scoring Alex Godshall to give Columbia the 6-5 win.
Squires earned his first win of the season while Michael Dellanegra was tagged with the loss.
Game Two
In his first start at Robertson Field, Tim Giel did not allow a hit over the first three innings while Columbia took a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
After Jon Eisen laced a single to center with one out, Dean Forthun followed by crushing a home run over the wall in left center field, putting Columbia on top, 2-0.
Bucknell scratched out a run in the fourth, scoring on a wild pitch with two outs, to inch closer at 2-1.
The Bison then took advantage of two Columbia errors, while knocking out three hits in the fifth to gain a 5-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Ben Allen's two-run double with two outs gave Bucknell the three-run lead.
Eric Williams came on in relief and tossed three scoreless innings, allowing the Lions back into the game. With one out in the Columbia eighth, Nick Ferraresi drilled a 3-2 curveball over the center field fence for a two-run homer, making it a 5-4 game.
Williams left the bases loaded in the ninth without allowing anyone to score, setting the stage for the ninth. Billy Rumpke drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by Alex Godshall.
Jon Eisen walked and both he and Rumpke moved up a base on a wild pitch. Dean Forthun then drew another walk, chasing Matt Lamore from the game after he started the ninth.
Bucknell lefty Russell Seidell came on to face the lefty hitter Jason Banos and walked Banos on a 3-2 pitch to force home the tying run. Next up was lefty Alexander Aurrichio, who lofted a fly ball to medium left field.
It appeared as if it would be deep enough to score Jon Eisen. It would have been a close play at the plate, but Bucknell's left fielder and center fielder collided with each other after the left fielder made the catch, allowing Eisen to easily cross the plate with the winning run, clinching the sweep for Columbia.
Williams earned his first collegiate victory while Lamore took the loss.
Now winners of four straight, Columbia will travel to Monmouth for a midweek game on Wednesday, March 31 at 3:30 p.m.
