Bucknell Baseball Drops Season Opener, 9-7, against Toledo - BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Bucknell Baseball Drops Season Opener, 9-7, against Toledo

Avanzino and Turban Belt Homers for the Bison

Sophomore John Avanzino belted his first collegiate home run on Saturday against the Rockets.

Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. - The Bucknell baseball team led 6-3 after six innings of play, but could not hold off Toledo, falling 9-7 to the Rockets in the 2008 season opener at Eastern Kentucky's Early Bird Tournament on Saturday.

Toledo plated the first two runs of the contest as Jake Oester doubled in Drew Hoisington in the first and Tim Krofcheck brought in Nate McKeon with a sacrifice fly in the second.

The Bison took one of the runs back in the bottom of the second. With two on and two out, sophomore Ben Allen (Port Royal, Pa./Juniata) drove in senior Austin Turban (Northfield, Ill./New Trier) with a single to left.

Then in the third, Bucknell went on top, 3-2, once again scoring with two gone in the inning. Sophomore Andrew Brouse (Kreamer, Pa./Midd-West) singled through the left side and classmate John Avanzino (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) followed up by belting his first collegiate home run.

In the top of the sixth another RBI double by the Rockets tied the score at three. Ryan Satterlee singled to lead off the inning and crossed the plate on Josh Colliver's hit two batters later.

In their next turn at-bat, the Bison regained the lead, 4-3. After senior Mark Angelo (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) reached on a fielder's choice, Brouse knocked an RBI double to left center.

Bucknell tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore B.J. LaRosa (Jacksonville, Fla./Episcopal) doubled and scored when classmate Ben Yoder (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley) reached on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Yoder came home on a double steal, marking the sixth run of the contest for the Orange and Blue.

The three-run lead would not be enough, however, as Toledo exploded for six runs on four hits in the top of the seventh.

In the bottom half of the frame, the Bison took one of the runs back on a solo homer by Turban, but that would be all for Bucknell, which left the tying runs on base in the ninth.

In relief of Kyle Rawlings who gave up four runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts, Matt Kuna recorded the win (1-0) for the Rockets. Kuna worked three innings and allowed three runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Jeff Cinadr then tossed a scoreless ninth to register the save.

Senior Jason Buurrsma (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside School) started but did not receive the decision for the Bison. He threw 6.1 innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Classmate David Solan (Newark, Del./Newark) relieved him and took the loss (0-1) after facing one batter and walking what would prove to be the winning run.

Eight members of Bucknell's lineup had two hits apiece. Avanzino led the squad with two RBI, while Turban scored twice.

For Toledo, Satterlee went a team-best 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Oester and McKeon each contributed two RBI.

Following a 2 p.m. contest against Eastern Kentucky this afternoon, the Bison will close out their weekend at the Early Bird Tournament with a single game against the host Colonels on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m.