Bullpen Strong in Bucknell Baseball's 6-3 Loss at Richmond

Freshmen Kra and Zimmerman Pitch 4.2 Scoreless Innings of Relief for Bison

Max Kra

Feb. 16, 2013

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. - Bucknell freshman relievers Max Kra and Austin Zimmerman were not charged with a run in 4.2 innings Saturday at Richmond, but the Spiders had already built a 5-0 lead when the bullpen was called upon and held on for a 6-3 victory in game two of the three-game weekend series. Richmond claimed game one of the series on Friday.

The Spiders (2-0) touched Bison starter Bryson Hough (0-1) for five hits and scored five runs off him when he exited with one out in the fourth. Kra, who was making his first career appearance, entered the game with the bases loaded. A groundout by Bret Williams plated Richmond's fourth run of the inning and its last of the game as Kra and Zimmerman gave the Bison a chance to chip away at the deficit.

Kra logged 3.2 innings and yielded just two hits and one walk while striking out three. Richmond's only two hits against him were back-to-back two-out singles in the sixth.

Zimmerman replaced Kra in the eighth inning and retired the Spiders in order in his first career appearance.

"The guys competed hard today," said first-year Bison head coach Scott Heather. "Conditions were tough and we gave them a few extra opportunities to score than we should have. I saw progress, though, which is what you want to see at this point of the season. It was good to see Kra and Zimmerman do well out of the bullpen and Hough threw the ball better than the numbers indicate. We'll be back at it tomorrow and hopefully we come away with the result we want."

After falling behind 6-0, Bucknell got on the board with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning. Freshman catcher Jon Mayer led off the frame with a double. He later scored on an error, while Brett Ashley came around to score on an RBI single by Corey Furman after walking.

The Bison got on the board again in the ninth when Robb Scott led off the frame with his first career home run.

Richmond starter Zak Sterling (1-0) earned the win as he pitched 5.0 innings, allowed five hits and was not charged with an earned run. Ryan Cook pitched the final four innings and yielded just two hits, one of which was Scott's home run, and earned the save.

Both teams posted seven hits in the contest. Travis Clark's 2-for-4 performance marked the only multi-hit outing for the Bison. He is now hitting .500 in the season's first two games.

Bucknell and Richmond will wrap up their series Sunday at 1 p.m.