Patriot League Baseball Semifinals: Bucknell Advances Past Navy; Will Meet Holy Cross for Championship
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – No. 4 Bucknell received a complete-game shutout performance from LHP Mike Castellani, while senior 3B Sam Clark went 3-for-3, driving in two runs to help the Bison advance past No. 1 Navy in a two-game sweep. Bucknell will meet No. 2 Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass in the Patriot League Championship Series beginning Friday, May 19.
The Bison moved past the regular-season champion Midshipmen behind a pair of strong performances from its starting pitchers, as Castellani and game one starter Connor Van Hoose combined to toss 18.0 innings, scattering six hits, allowing one run and striking out 12. Bucknell returns to the championship series for the first time since 2014, when they also defeated Navy in the semifinals.
No. 2 Holy Cross will host the best-of-three game series at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field after sweeping No. 3 Army West Point in two games on Saturday afternoon. The series between the Bison and Crusaders is scheduled to begin on Friday, May 19 at 5:05 p.m. On Saturday, May 20, first pitch for game two is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. with the game three, if necessary, scheduled to follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the early game.
PATRIOT LEAGUE BASEBALL SEMIFINAL ROUND
NO. 4 BUCKNELL BISON (21-26, 10-10 PL) AT NO. 1 NAVY MIDSHIPMEN (37-17, 16-4 PL)
Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium/Annapolis, Md. | Sunday, May 14, 12 p.m.
GAME ONE – Bucknell 5, Navy 0 BOX SCORE
ANNAPOLIS – Senior LHP Mike Castellani tossed a complete-game shutout, while allowing just three hits and striking out six, as No. 3 Bucknell advanced past No. 1 Navy, 5-0 on Sunday afternoon.
*First Team All-Patriot League third baseman Sam Clark went 3-for-3 with one run scored and two RBIs to lead the Bison offense.
*Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Kyle Condry of Navy took the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings.
*Castellani carried a no-hitter through four innings, before Navy senior rightfielder Leland Saile led off the fifth inning with a single.
*The Mids only managed to move three runners into scoring position against Castellani.
*The Bison got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as senior centerfielder Brett Smith led off with a double down the leftfield line and scored on Clark’s sacrifice fly.
*Clark also drove in Bucknell’s second run of the game, singling to centerfield allowing junior rightfielder Chuckie Scales to cross the plate.
*Bucknell plated two in the seventh inning, as junior shortstop Luke Johnson singled to drive in senior first baseman Danny Rafferty. Clark would later score on a throwing error to take a 4-0 lead.
*The Bison added one more run in the eighth inning, as Scales singled to drive in sophomore catcher Evan Klugerman.
*Castellani retired the side in order in the bottom of the top of the ninth inning to clinch the series sweep.