Saturday, May 06, 2006

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 6, 2006) - The Baseball Bucs plated four seventh inning runs, three with two outs, breaking a 4-4 tie, and held off a ninth inning rally from the visiting hatters to post their third consecutive victory Saturday evening at Cardinal Park.

With the game tied at four in the seventh, senior outfielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) reached on a one-out single, and after stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error, came home on senior first baseman Blake Church's (Roswell, Ga.) single to left.  After a fly out and a walk for senior Matt Traylor (Knoxville, Tenn.), two consecutive wild pitches scored Church.  Junior second baseman Michael Courtney (Knoxville, Tenn.) then singled home Traylor with what proved to be the game winning run.  Junior catcher John Weddle (Knoxville, Tenn.) doubled down the left field line, bringing Courtney home and capping the inning's scoring.

The Hatters (28-19, 12-11) scored twice in the ninth inning, and had the go-ahead run at the plate with two outs in the frame, but senior closer Steven Calicutt (Spartanburg, S.C.) induced a ground out to end the contest and secure his ninth save of the season.

Traylor staked the Bucs to a 4-0 lead in the first inning on his second grand slam of the year.  With two outs and the bases loaded, Traylor unloaded on Stetson starter Corey Kluber's 1-2 pitch and deposited his fourth home run of the season over the right center field wall.

The Hatters (28-19, 12-11) scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to cut the Buc lead to 4-3 before finally tying the game with a bases loaded walk in the seventh inning.

Junior Caleb Glafenhein (Knoxville, Tenn.) picked up the win, holding Stetson scoreless in 1 1/3 innings of relief work, improving his mark to 1-2.  Hatter starter Corey Kluber (5-3) took the loss, giving up six runs in 6 2/3 innings of action.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series Sunday afternoon at Cardinal Park.  First pitch is set for 1 p.m.