April 11, 2008

Final Stats

The Bisons rallied late to defeat the first place team in the Atlantic Sun, Florida Gulf Coast 7-6 on Friday, April 11.

The Bisons got on the board in the second. After loading the bases with no outs, the Bisons got just one run after Branden Cadavid grounded into a double play scoring Ryan Wilkins.

However, the Eagles got the run back in the top of the third, and took the lead by plating another run in both the fourth and fifth innings. The Eagles pulled ahead by four, in the seventh, scoring two runs, to take a 5-1 lead.

Brothers remained in the game until the eighth, exiting with runners on first and second and one out. He was relieved by right-hander Kyle Tognazzini. In 7.1 innings of work, Brothers gave up six runs, four earned, on eight hits while striking out seven.

After allowing the runners to advance on a balk, Tognazzini allowed an infield single, scoring another run, and giving the Eagles a 6-1 lead.

The Bisons pulled to within two in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Blake Bratcher grounded into what appeared to be a double play. However, after getting the out on second, a throwing error by the Eagle's shortstop led to two Bisons runs, with Bratcher being credited with one RBI on the fielder's choice. Bratcher would come around to score on an infield single off the bat of Justin Sanders to bring the score to 6-4.

The Bisons rallied to tie the score in the ninth. Lipscomb loaded the bases with no outs. After Jorge Gutierrez struck out, Allen Bolden drove a sacrifice fly to fly to bring the Bisons to within one. With runners on first and second, Caleb Joseph grounded a 3-2 pitch up the middle to tie the game at six.

The Bisons picked up where they left off in the tenth, loading the bases with no outs. Sanders led off the inning with a single up the middle. After the next batter, Shane Simpkins got hit by a pitch, Wilkins laid a perfect bunt down the third base line, to load the bases for Branden Cadavid who lined a 2-1 pitch off the wall in left center field, giving the Bisons the 7-6 win.

"All the pressure was on them that inning. Our fans were really into the game which created a great atmosphere," Cadavid said. "It was a big win and we need to look forward to tomorrows game and win the series.

Tognazzini earned the win to improve to 3-0 on the season. In 2.2 innings of work, he gave up just two hits, while striking out four.

With the win, the Bisons improved to 19-14 on the season, and 13-6 in the conference. They are back in action when they complete the series with the Eagles tomorrow, in a double-header, set to kick off at 1 p.m.