LEWISBURG -- The first two games of the Patriot League semifinals between top-seeded Bucknell and No. 4 Lafayette were complete opposites. Unfortunately for the Bison, Sunday's series finale was more like the nightcap than the opener.
In game one Saturday, Bucknell edged Lafayette by two runs in a back-and-fourth contest. The nightcap followed with the Leopards jumping out to a quick lead, watching Bucknell rally before Lafayette pulled away to force a deciding game Sunday in Lewisburg.
Sunday, with a trip to the Patriot League final on the line, Lafayette carried its potent offense over from Saturday, banging out 18 hits en route to a 10-2 win over Bucknell.
The Leopards (24-27) will meet No. 2 Army in next week's best-of-three championship series at West Point. The Bison, the defending Patriot League champs, end the season at 22-25.
After falling behind 7-0 through the first six innings, the Bucknell bats seemed to come to life after Ben Yoder drew a six-pitch walk and Doug Shribman singled to center field to give the Bison their first run of the day. Bucknell's defense then took the field and held Lafayette scoreless for the first time in any inning of the game.
Although the Bison couldn't get any runs in the seventh they looked to be getting back on track after holding the Leopard's offense down and getting their first run of the day in the sixth.
Everything changed in the top of the eighth as the Leopards connected for five hits including a two-run homer by Matt Hall that restored the Leopards' momentum and put the Bison in a hole they could not recover from.
"At 7-1, I wasn't sitting back and relaxing," Lafayette coach Jim Kinney said. "Even at 9-1 I wasn't, but the home run helped. It was a big play for us."
The Bison opened every inning behind the eight ball with Lafayette putting the leadoff batter on in six of nine at-bats. By contrast, Bucknell's leadoff batters only reached base safely only once.
"That's a huge momentum swing for Lafayette," Bucknell coach Gene Depew said. "When you get that leadoff hitter on, especially for their kind of game where they like to run, bunt-and-run, and hit-and-run, it gives them so many options and puts a lot of pressure on our defense to defend all that stuff."
Along with the Leopards outstanding day at the plate, senior pitcher Ryan Hanna put together a six-inning, one-run performance from the mound. After throwing three innings in Saturday's early game, Hanna toed the rubber to fan seven batters while only walking one.
"It's very important to pitch with the lead, especially early," Hanna said. "When you have the lead you can attack the hitters and keep them off-balance to get the out later in the count. It was a must-win game. I was just trying to take it one inning at a time an see how far it went."
Bucknell's second run came in the bottom of the eighth when Yoder singled home Dane Grandizio after he drew a four-pitch walk.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Liz Rohde
-
Liz Rohde
-
Liz Rohde
Discussion
Bison bounced by Lafayette in semifinals
Lafayette carries momentum into finale
- Sports
-
-
Panthers, Shore to settle AAA crown
One game. Milton played 19 times (once canceled by rain) and won 15, making the postseason for the first time since 2007, and its season comes down to one, winner-take-all game.
-
Prolific offense carries Milton to final
A smile creased the corners of Jordon Bordner's mouth and soon his pearly whites gleamed through. If he thought about the question before, the Milton junior played coy for a reporter.
-
Three Braves heading to Lyco
In a year of twists and turns for the Shikellamy wrestling program, three seniors have decided to follow their former coach and drive the 40 miles to attend Lycoming College, in Williamsport.
-
Weather washes out schedule
While the severe thunderstorm that blew through the Susquehanna Valley stopped the District 4 baseball and softball playoffs before they ever got started on Tuesday afternoon, the weather won't force the Milton baseball team to wait anymore.
-
District 4 playoffs washed out
The thunderstorm that blew through the Valley on Tuesday afternoon has pushed back the entire District 4 softball and baseball schedule.
-
Adames emerges for Black Panthers
Chace Phillips had a moment of pause, looking down at Reynaldo Adames prone at his feet. Milton's senior leadoff hitter had made a hard, head-first slide into third base and didn't immediately get up.
-
Bottom of order sparks Ironmen
Trevor Leitzel was probably joshing when he explained how he came to go 3-for-3 in Danville's district quarterfinal win Friday at Wyalusing Valley.
-
Lauer steps down
For the last four years, Dave Lauer has considered hanging up his whistle and clipboard. He just didn't know for sure that the time was right. But he found an out. After 30 years as the Selinsgrove girls track and field coach " and 40 years of coaching overall " Lauer took that next big step.
-
Shots from the Hip: Fireside blogging
Hotdogs roasting over an open fire, mud squishing between soggy toes ...
-
H.S. softball: A great team by any other name
For the longest time, Warrior Run softball history could be summed up with one name: Laura Harris.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Panthers, Shore to settle AAA crown
