University of Maine
Bucknell
Baseball Drops Matinee to Bucknell 8-5
3/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The University of Maine baseball team dropped an 8-5 decision to Bucknell on Wednesday afternoon in Winter Haven, Fla. Sam Balzano (Portland, Maine) and Luke Morrill, South Thomaston, Maine) each had a pair of hits in the game, while Logan Fullmer (Lebanon, Pa.) pitched 5.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Maine took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Brett Chappell (Rock Falls, Ill.) singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Morrill single.
Bucknell tied the game in the bottom of the frame. Brett Smith singled and moved to third on an error. He scored when Sam Clark grounded out.
Maine grabbed the lead back in the top of the second inning. Brenden Geary (South Hadley, Mass.) singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored when Bobby Brennan (Cape Coral, Fla.) hit a sacrifice fly.
Bucknell gained the lead in the top of the second inning with four runs. Jake Archer doubled and Greg Wasikowski drew a walk. Both runners scored when Smith doubled to right center field. Joe Ogren followed with a single. Smith and Ogren both scored when Clark ripped a double to right field. The Bison added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning to extend their lead to 8-2.
Maine got two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Shane Bussey (Boynton Beach, Fla.) reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch. Balzano, who singled, scored when Morrill singled to right.
The Black Bears continued to chip away at the lead with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Brennan and Bussey had back-to-back hits to lead off the inning. The runners advanced to second and third on a Balzano sacrifice bunt. Brennan scored on a sacrifice fly by Chappell.
That was as close as Maine would get, however.
Luke Morrill got the start on the mound for the Black Bears. He went 1.2 innings and allowed 5 runs, four of which were earned, on five hits. He suffers the loss and falls to 0-1. Connor Johnson (Taunton, Mass.) went two thirds of an inning and allowed three runs on two hits. Logan Fullmer (Lebanon, Pa.) was outstanding in relief, going 5.2 innings. He allowed just three hits without surrendering a run. He struck out three batters in the game.
Mike Kerchak got the start for the Bison and went 4.2 innings. He allowed four runs, two of which were earned, on eight hits. He struck out three batters. Mike Castellani replaced Kerchak and went 4.1 innings. He allowed one run on two hits and picks up the win, improving to 1-0 on the season.
Maine returns to action on Friday, March 13 when they will play a pair of games. The Black Bears will face Illinois State at 10 AM and then Bowling Green at 1:30 PM.
