Bucknell Official Athletic Site

Bucknell Pitching Staff Ranked 11th In The Nation In Team ERA

Bison Team Owns a 3.12 Earned Run Average.

April 15, 2003

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell baseball team is ranked 11th in the nation with a stellar 3.12 ERA, while rookie Phil Futrick stands tied for eighth nationally with eight saves, according to the national statistics released Tuesday by the NCAA.

Leaders on the Bison pitching staff include the starting four, Kevin Miller, Zach Allen, R.J. Grant and Kevin Burns. Bucknell is also staffed with two phenomenal relievers in Futrick and Matt Daley. Leading the team is Burns, who owns a 4-1 record and carries a 2.25 ERA and Allen, who owns a 4-2 record and holds a 2.35 ERA. Miller, 5-0, has recorded a 2.56 ERA, and Grant, 4-2, owns a 4.42 ERA. On the closing end, Futrick, who has tallied a school-record eight saves for the Bison, has a miniscule earned run average of 0.84. Daley has three saves and a 3.55 ERA.

With 25 games under their belt, the Orange and Blue have pitched 187.1 innings and given up 65 earned runs. Opponents are hitting just .246 against Bucknell's 13-man staff.

Futrick is tied for eighth in the nation with eight saves. The rookie set a new school record for saves in a season this past weekend with two saves against Patriot League opponent Lehigh.

Among the teams ranked ahead of Bucknell in the team ERA are five top-25 teams, including the nation's top-three teams in Rice, California State-Fullerton and Florida State.

Thanks in large part to the success of their pitching staff, the Bison own a 17-8 overall record and are in first-place in the Patriot League standings with a 9-3 record. Bucknell is scheduled to host Duquesne on Wednesday, April 16, for a doubleheader. The day is slated to begin at 1 p.m.

Top 15 Div. I Teams Earned Run Average Through Games 4/13/03
Rank	Name	G	W-L	IP	R	ER	ERA
1.	Rice	38	35-3	344.0	99	85	2.22
2.	Va. Commonwealth	35	26-9	296.2	95	77	2.34
3.	Florida St.	40	34-6	352.2	136	96	2.45
4.	Cal St. Fullerton	38	30-8	338.1	111	95	2.53
5.	Vermont	38	30-8	135.1	50	40	2.66
6.	Mississippi St.	33	25-7-1	298.1	106	91	2.75
7.	Virginia Tech	31	22-9	270.0	105	86	2.87
8.	Richmond	33	27-6	275.1	124	90	2.94
9.	Virginia	33	21-12	286.0	129	95	2.99
10.	East Carolina	36	23-12-1	335.1	134	113	3.03
11.	Bucknell	25	17-8	187.1	91	65	3.12
12.	UNC Wilimington	39	26-13	341.2	146	119	3.14
13.	Mississippi	35	21-14	313.0	142	111	3.19
14.	Marist	28	18-9-1	238.1	121	86	3.25
15.	Central Conn. St.	23	15-7-1	181.0	101	66	3.28