April 3, 2002

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Binghamton University scored five times in the top of the ninth off Bucknell reliever Gregg Farmery, and the Bearcats came from behind to defeat the Bison 9-6 in non-league action at Bucknell Field Wednesday afternoon.

Binghamton (7-16) snapped a five-game losing skid with the win. Bucknell (10-19) lost its third game in a row and fell for the seventh time in its last eight games.

After allowing a season-high 17 hits against Towson yesterday, Bucknell gave up 19 hits to the Bearcats. Binghamton committed five errors, and all six of the Bison's runs were unearned.

Trailing 6-4 heading into the top of the ninth, Binghamton cut the lead to 6-5 when Kyle Loucks scored on T.J. Kowalchuk's double play ball. Jacob Thiel kept the Bearcats' rally going with a single. After stealing second, Thiel advanced to third and scored the tying run on a pair of wild pitches by Farmery. Four batters later, Jamie Boyer delivered a bases-clearing double that would hold up as the game-winning hit.

Phil Artonio (1-1) hurled the ninth and was credited with his first victory of the season. Farmery took the loss and fell to 3-2.

Binghamton scored one run in the first off Bucknell starter Zach Allen on three straight singles by Tony Berube, Loucks and Tim Collar. Berube and Loucks each hit an RBI single off Sean Magee in the third as the Bearcats plated two more runs to go up 3-0.

Bucknell responded with five runs off Binghamton reliever Josh Fuerst in the bottom of third on three hits and three Binghamton errors. Eric Fishman and Larry Scheetz both drilled a two-run single as the Bison took a 5-3 lead.

The Bearcats sliced Bucknell's advantage to 5-4 with three straight singles, including Berube's RBI one-bagger, off Magee in the top of the fourth. Bucknell pushed its lead to 6-4 when Austin Barrett scored on an error in the bottom of the fifth off Binghamton's second reliever, Thiel.

Binghamton called on four additional relievers, and those pitchers would hold Bucknell scoreless the rest of the way. Adam Shatkun, Johnmin Hickey, Tom Gaube and Artonio each hurled one scoreless inning. The Bison did not advance a runner past second after the fifth inning.

Loucks finished the game 4-for-5 to lead Binghamton at the plate, while Boyer, Berube and Collar each collected three hits. Sam Moss stroked a pair of singles to lead the Bison offense.

Bucknell resumes its Patriot League schedule with a pair of home doubleheaders against Navy on Saturday and Sunday. Binghamton travels to Hartford on Saturday and Sunday to play four America East games.