March 10, 2001

Box Score

TOWSON, Md. - Senior Ryan Avila (Parkville H.S./Baltimore, Md.) had five base hits and scored six runs as Towson University (3-1) opened its home schedule with a non-conference doubleheader sweep over Lafayette College (2-2) on Saturday afternoon. After winning the opener by a 12-3 margin, the Tigers won the second game, 10-6.

In the doubleheader sweep, Avila went five-for-eight with a double. In addition to scoring six runs, he had a pair of runs batted in. In the second game, Avila hit a two-run double as part of a six-run second inning that gave Towson a 6-0 lead. In the decisive second inning, Avila's two-run double put the Tigers ahead, 4-0. He scored moments later on a two-run home run by freshman second baseman Chris Schoonhoven (Middletown North H.S./Middletown, N.J.). It was the first homer of Schoonhoven's career.

Freshman Mike Costello (Archbishop Curley H.S./Baltimore, Md.) also had a big day for the Tigers. After hitting a three-run homer as a pinch hitter in the opener, he went two-for-two with a walk in the nightcap. He also hit his second home run of the doubleheader, a solo shot in the fifth inning that upped the Tigers' lead to 10-6.

Freshman righthander Jason Summerlin (Owings Mills H.S./Reisterstown, Md.) was the winning pitcher in the second game. He pitched 2.2 innings of shutout relief to pick up the first victory of his career. In the opener, Avila had three base hits and scored four runs to lead the Tigers to the victory. His three hits led a twelve-hit Tiger offense which included three home runs.

Junior leftfielder Sean Williams (Atholton H.S./Laurel, Md.) hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to give the Tigers a 6-3 lead. In the fifth inning, junior catcher Casey Stidham (Severna Park H.S./Severna Park, Md.), who had earlier tripled, cracked a two-run homer to put ahead, 9-3. As a pinch hitter, Costello hit a three-run homer to give the Tigers a 12-3 lead. Junior lefthander Matt Nein (Meade H.S./Severn, Md.) picked up the first win of his college career with two shutout innings of relief work.

Freshman rightfielder Adam Rosenberg (Neptune H.S./Ocean Grove, N.J.) led the Leopards offensively. In the doubleheader, he had five hits, scoring two runs and driving in three. He was three-for-three in the opener and had a triple in the nightcap.

Junior outfielder Tye Gonser (The Dalles H.S./The Dallas, Ore.) had three hits, including a double in each game. Lafayette had 19 hits in the doubleheader but left 17 runners on base. Towson hosts defending Patriot League champion Army on Sunday in another 12 noon doubleheader.

College Baseball: Towson 12-10, Lafayette 3-6
Game One: Towson 12, Lafayette 3

Lafayette   0 3 0   0 0 0   0   -    3  10  3Towson      1 1 3   2 5 0   x   -   12 12  2Joe Saporetti, Matt Tambellini (5), Jeff Zambrano (6) and Jon Kline.Mike Howells, Matt Nein (5), Steve Swiech (7) and Casey Stidham.2B: LAF- Tye Gonser, Vince D'Angelis, Brad Drake    TOW- Scott Bacon3B: TOW- Casey StidhamHR: TOW- Sean Williams, Casey Stidham, Mike Costello

Game Two: Towson 10, Lafayette 6

Lafayette   0 0 2   1 3 0   0   -    6  9  3Towson      0 6 2   1 1 0   x   -   10 10  3Marcus Ward, Frank Biele (4), Ross Butler (6) and Craig Alexander,Ray Sauser, Jason Summerlin (4) and Ryan Avila.2B: LAF- Tye Gonser    TOW- Gregg Davies, Ryan Avila3B: TOW- Gregg Davies, Curtis LesterHR: TOW- Chris Schoonhoven, Mike Costello