April 30, 2000
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette used a five-run fifth inning to propel it to the a 6-1 win in the nightcap of a Patriot League doubleheader with Navy on Sunday at Metzgar Fields. The Leopards just missed getting the series split, losing the opener 7-6.
In the nightcap, Lafayette received a complete game performance from starting pitcher Scott Dennis (Spencertown, N.Y./Chatham). Dennis, who was one of four seniors honored on the day, struck out six batters while allowing just six hits and one run over seven innings. The win moved him to 3-3 for the season.
Lafayette scored its first run of the game in the second inning, when Jon Kline (Hingham, Mass./Thayer Academy) drove home senior Mike Palos (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) with a two-out single to right center.
The Leopards did their biggest damage, however, in the next inning, batting around the lineup to score five runs and grab a comfortable 6-0 lead. Senior Bob Osipower (Quakertown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic), who was also playing in his last home game, got the inning going with a single through the left side that followed a lead-off walk. The next batter up, Palos, also came through on senior day, crushing a three-run home run to right field. The second out of the inning came on a fly out, but Ian Burley (Nazareth, Pa./Notre Dame) singled through the right side to keep the inning alive for Kline. Kline obliged with a two-run blast to right to give Lafayette the 6-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, Navy ended Dennis' shutout bid. Luke Braham singled home Jason Guidos who had earlier reached on a lead off double. The lone Navy run put the final at 6-1. Navy starter Robert Burris was dealt his first loss of the season (4-1), throwing 2 2/3 innings while allowing six runs on six hits.
The opener of the twinbill was nothing like either of the 13-1 losses that Navy handed Lafayette on Saturday. The game was close throughout, not decided until the sixth inning.
Navy got the first run of the game in the first inning. Guidos walked and promptly stole second and third. Following a walk, the Leopards allowed Guidos to score, opting instead for a double play that allowed Navy a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the first.
The Navy lead didn't hold up for long. Vince D'Angelis (Montvale, NJ/St. Joseph Regional) and Tye Gonser (The Dalles, Ore./The Dalles) reached on a single and double, respectively. They both scored on the next play, a fielding error by the third baseman that gave Lafayette a 2-1 advantage. The inning ended with a double play of sorts, a strikeout and a batter's interference call on an attempt to throw out a runner stealing second.
After a scoreless second frame, Navy scored three more runs due largely to three errors from the Lafayette defense. Back-to-back doubles down the left field line from Tony Moore and Luke Braham brought in the first two runs. The final Navy run crossed home on a throwing error to give Navy a 4-2 lead.
The Leopards clawed back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third. Osipower legged out a one-out triple and scored when his classmate Palos singled through the left side. Palos would later score the tying run on a Matt Tambellini (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart) groundout.
Navy didn't waste any time retaking the lead. Again, three more Lafayette errors aided the Midshipmen's cause. Jake Miller scored the first of two runs of the inning on an infield error. Luke Braham singled home John Cocca for the second run that put Navy ahead 6-4.
Lafayette slugged back for two runs in the bottom of the fifth, when Tambellini drilled a two-out double down the right field line to tie the game at 6-6.
In the Navy sixth, John Cocca led off the inning by reaching on a single. After a pitching change that brought Tambellini in for starter Joe Saporetti (Woodbury Heights, N.J./Gateway Regional), Guidos sacrificed Cocca to second with a bunt. Two batters later, cleanup hitter Mark Zematis drove a pitch to center for a two-out single and what turned out to be the game-winning hit.
Saporetti (2-4) allowed just three hits over five innings, but was saddled with the loss thanks in large part to five unearned runs. Brian Pennell (1-2) got the win for Navy, allowing two hits over 1 2/3 innings. Matt Antel came in for the save.
By virtue of its win in the first game, Navy clinched the Patriot League regular-season title. The Midshipmen's record moved to 24-18-1 overall and 14-6 in the Patriot League. Lafayette goes to 12-26 overall and 6-12 in the Patriot League.
Lafayette closes out the season on Wednesday, when the Leopards travel to Rutgers for a 3:30 p.m. game.
