University of Delaware Athletics
Wild Pitch Helps Delaware Baseball to a 5-4 Victory Over Bucknell in an 11-inning Non-Conference Contest
3/24/2013 2:30:00 PM | Baseball
Delaware (14-8) earned its first weekend-series sweep of the season and have won four-straight games while Bucknell (4-16) has lost its last seven games.
Tied at 4-4 in the top of the 11th inning, UD's Lopes lined a double into left field and advanced to third base on a ground out. With the winning run only 90-feet away, a wild pitch uncorked by BU's Kra allowed Lopes to scamper home for the eventual game-winning run.
Back-to-back doubles by Jimmy Yezzo and Nick Ferdinand helped the Blue Hens to a three-run, third inning and gave Delaware an early 4-2 lead that would last until the ninth inning.
Bucknell would tally two runs in the bottom of the ninth off of Delaware reliever Steve Richter after a leadoff walk to Scott Glass, a RBI triple by Corey Furman and RBI single by Carter Bumgardner.
Reliever Eric Buckland (3-1) entered the game in the ninth inning with the potential game-winning run on first base and one out. The senior right-hander would shut the door on Bucknell after he threw 2.2 hitless innings of relief with one walk and two strikeouts for his third win of the season.
“Buckland is back to throwing well again,” said Delaware head coach Jim Sherman. “He shut Bucknell down over the final two-plus innings and was strong all weekend.”
Six of Delaware's nine hits were doubles. Yezzo was the only Blue Hen with multiple base hits as the first baseman paced the club with three doubles, three RBI and one run scored.
Matt Soren pitched brilliantly for the Blue Hens in his second start of the season. The right-hander surrendered two unearned runs on four hits, three walks and a season-high nine strikeouts in eight innings on the mound.
“Outstanding performance by Soren,” said Sherman. “He had great velocity and showcased command of the breaking ball.”
The Bison's offense was led by Bumgardner, who collected three of Bucknell's six hits and added one RBI.
Bucknell's Kra (0-2) suffered the loss after he surrendered one earned run on two hits while pitching the 11th inning.
Dan Goldstein received a no-decision for the Bison after the right-hander threw six innings and was charged with four runs (three earned) on six hits and five strikeouts.
The Blue Hens return to Bob Hannah Stadium on Tuesday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. when the University of Delaware hosts Saint Joseph's University in the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic.
Delaware will hand the ball to right-hander Dan Gatto (0-1, 6.60 earned-run average) to start Tuesday's Liberty Bell Classic First Round match-up against the Hawks.
