EMMITSBURG, Md. (March 26th, 2024) – After a 4-0 lead, the Mount's bullpen was finding difficulty in consistent pitching, leading to their downfall late in the game. The final of tonight's marathon match, 16-14.
TJ Curley made his first start as a Mountaineer today and pitched a strong three innings. The freshman left-handed pitcher allowed three hits, gave up zero runs, with two strikeouts.
A quirky chain of events that played in the Mount's favor in the bottom of the first inning led to a 3-0 start.
Scott Seeker added to the team's lead in the second with an RBI single through the right side, scoring
Josh Braxton, 4-0.
The Bison joined the game in the fourth inning after adding four runs to the board off four hits. Bucknell strung together two doubles through three batters, including a bag clearing double to score three runs, 4-3.
The Mountaineers responded quickly with a three-run bottom frame. With two outs,
Tyler Long started things off with a booted ball from the second baseman. Seeker followed with a walk, bringing
JT Landwehr to the plate. Landwehr roped an RBI single to center field, scoring Long and advancing Seeker to second.
Jayson Kramer cleared the bags with a two RBI single to right center, scoring Seeker and Long, 7-4.
Bucknell scored a run in the fifth and sixth to cut the deficit to one, leaving the Mount scoreless. In the top of the seventh inning the Bison erupted for six runs on three hits. The Mount was struggling to find the right pitcher to sustain the inning, leading to a 12-7 lead change in favor of the Bison.
Consecutive singles by
Shane Wockley and
Nick Fleming gave the Mount an edge in the bottom of the frame.
Ty Fredo batted Wockley in to cut the lead to four runs, leaving the Mount with hope.
The Bison added four runs in the top of the eighth on four hits to extend their lead, 16-8.
Headed into the bottom of the eighth, the Mount needed an answer quickly. They strung together base runners by working the counts to draw walks. Seeker started things off by wearing a pitch to put him on base, Landwehr followed with a single through the right side, putting runners on first and second with no outs.
Ty Stecko loaded the bags after drawing a walk. Coach Leoni called on
Aiden Tierney to pinch hit, coming through in the clutch with an RBI single. Three walks and a hit by pitch later, The Mountaineers rattled the scoreboard for five runs to bring them within striking distance, 16-13.
Danny Salisbury and
Maximus McCrary combined for a scoreless ninth inning, leaving it up to the offense to seal the game. The Mountaineers loaded the bags with one out after strategically bringing
Braden Ramirez to the plate to provoke the righty-on-righty matchup. A near home run by Fredo, resulted in a sac-fly which brought the Mount within two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Brayden Foster was called to pinch hit, and hit a deep fly out to center field, in an unfortunate end for Mount St. Mary's.
