Saturday, February 24, 2007

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 24, 2007) - After falling victim to a hot hitting Rider team in Saturday afternoon's opening game, the Bucs rebounded, aided by Caleb Glafenhein's (Knoxville, Tenn.) career-high six strikeouts and Anthony Russell's (Waldorf, Md.) four-hit performance, downing the Broncs 7-5 in the nightcap.

Rider pounded out 17 runs on 24 hits to take the opening game, 17-3.

The Bucs (6-3) came out strong in the second game, scoring a run in each of the first three innings, capped by Russell's second home run of the season, a solo shot to left center, for a 3-0 lead.

Rider (1-2) scored three times in the sixth to even the contest, but junior Scott Deans (Greenville, Tenn.) broke the tie in the bottom of the frame with a double to right field, scoring freshman Tanner Moore (Chattanooga, Tenn.).  Freshman Justin Tramble (Marietta, Ga.) followed with a single, bringing Deans home for the second time in the game.

Senior Michael Courtney's (Knoxville, Tenn.) bases loaded single in the seventh plated two more runs, giving the Bucs a four-run cushion.

After the Broncs cut the lead to 7-5 in the eighth inning, senior Tony Lombardi (Windsor, Calif.) came on and recorded the final four outs, picking up his first career save.

Glafenhein pitched 7 2/3 for the Bucs, giving up five runs, only five earned, and walked just one batter to go along with his career high six K's, earning his second win of the series.  Mike Dyszel gave up four runs in five-plus innings for Rider, taking his first loss of the season.

The Bucs wrap-up their eight-game homestand Wednesday afternoon with a 3 p.m. tilt against old Southern Conference foe Furman at Cardinal Park.