Navy Falls to Bucknell in Patriot League Baseball Tournament

5/12/2001 - Baseball
Navy Falls to Bucknell in Patriot League Baseball Tournament

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The Navy baseball team dropped a 6-4 decision to Bucknell Saturday afternoon in the first game of a best-out-of-three series in the Patriot League Baseball Tournament. The Bison defeated Holy Cross, 10-4, in the tournament opener to earn a spot in the championship series. Bucknell and Navy will square off Sunday at noon and if the Mids win, the two teams will play another game approximately 30 minutes following the opener.

"I thought for the most part that the pitching was good from both teams," Navy head coach Steve Whitmyer said. "I was pleased to see Rich McDevitt come in for us and throw well to keep us in the game. The bottom line is Bucknell got some big hits and executed. Rusty Hearn had a big hit that gave us the lead, but we just could not hang on. Hopefully, we will be able to come back tomorrow and things will go our way."

Catcher Brad Gething led the way for the Bison, going 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Eric Fishman went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and scored a run.

Bucknell starter Chris Lackett threw six innings before being replaced by reliever Kevin Miller who improved to 7-0 with the win. Gregg Farmery replaced Miller on the mound in the bottom of the ninth and earned his school record seventh save of the season. Matt Cooney started on the hill for the Mids but was replaced by McDevitt after giving up three runs on four hits in the first two innings. McDevitt dropped to 3-5 despite throwing 5.2 strong innings, allowing three unearned runs on four hits with four strikeouts.

Trailing 4-3 in the top of the eighth inning, Bucknell rallied with three runs to take the lead and move within one game of capturing its second league title in school history. Right fielder Mike Ritz's RBI-single to center scored Ian Joseph to tie the game at four. Brad Deafenbaugh came in to replace McDevitt and gave up a bloop-double down the left field line to Eric Fishman, as Ritz and Gething came home to score and give Bucknell a 6-4 lead.

Bucknell (30-17) took a 1-0 advantage on Gething's solo home run in the top of the first off Cooney. The Bison added two more runs in the top of the second to take a 3-0 lead before Navy got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning. Jake Miller's RBI-single to the left side of the Bucknell infield scored Brian Whitten from third to make it 3-1.

The Mids trimmed the Bison lead to one in the bottom of the fifth when Jason Guidos scored from third on Andy Mild's fielder's choice.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Navy squandered a golden scoring opportunity when the Mids put runners on second and third with nobody out but were unable to capitalize.

However, Navy (21-24-1) did capitalize in the bottom of the seventh when pinch hitter Rusty Hearn singled to right field, scoring Willie Gury. Mild advanced to third on the play and came home to score on a throwing error by Ritz to give Navy a 4-3 lead.

Navy out-hit Bucknell, 10-9, however the Mids left 11 runners on base compared to just six for the Bison.

In the tournament opener, Bucknell broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning when the Bison exploded for eight runs on five hits. Russ Lindberg's three-run homer to right center off Holy Cross relief pitcher Ben Deane highlighted Bucknell's big inning.

Ritz and Gething each recorded two hits apiece for the Bison, while Miller came and threw three innings in relief to earn the victory. Holy Cross starter Ryan Kenny dropped to 4-6 with the loss.