March 24, 2001

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - On a windy day at Metzgar Fields, Albany took two from the Lafayette baseball team winning, 16-10 and 19-14 in the Leopards' home opening weekend.

The two teams combined for seven home runs in the opening game thanks in large part to brisk winds blowing to right center. Albany quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead. A bases-loaded walk and a hit batsman with the bases loaded resulted in Albany's two runs in the first. In the second, a two-run homer by Michael Oliva and a solo shot from Jake Toms gave Albany the five-run advantage.

Lafayette got its own bats going in the bottom of the second. Junior centerfielder Tye Gonser (The Dalles, Ore./The Dalles) delivered the biggest blow of the inning, a bases-clearing double with the bases loaded. A two-run double by junior Vince D'Angelis (Montvale, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional) and an RBI-single from senior Ian Burley (Nazareth, Pa./Notre Dame) gave Lafayette a 6-5 lead.

Albany scored three more runs in the top of the third. Jeff Rossiter and Mike Tecklenburg led off the inning with back-to-back homers, part of an 18-hit game for Albany. Albany scored eight more runs over the final four innings.

In the fourth, a Tommy Greene triple plated both runs. Toms' second home run of the day came in the fifth, a two run shot that gave Albany a 12-9 margin. Albany tacked on four more in the sixth on an RBI-double from Steve Checksfield and RBI singles from Toms and Eddie Scott who finished the game 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot.

Lafayette managed three runs in the bottom of the fourth, all coming on a three-run dinger from sophomore Matt Tambellini (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart). The Leopards added one more run in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff home run from junior Jon Kline (Hingham, Mass./Thayer Academy).

Kevin Swords (Staten Island, N.Y./Curtis) was saddled with the loss. Swords (1-3) struck out three and gave up 10 hits and 10 runs (8 earned) in three and a third innings. Bryant Alvarado got the win for Albany, throwing five and a third innings while allowing five runs (2 earned)on seven Lafayette hits.

In the nightcap, it was more of the same offense from both teams, as Albany used 23 hits to crank out 22 runs.

Lafayette scored seven runs in the first two innings to take a 7-5 lead. In the first inning, Burley plated the first Lafayette run with an RBI single. Tambellini's second home run of the day then put Lafayette up 3-1.

Albany responded with four runs in the top of the second, highlighted by Rossiter's second home run of the day, a triple by Mike Grasso, and an single from Oliva to make it 5-3. The Leopards' quickly retook the lead with four runs in the home half of the second, coming on RBI-singles from Gonser and freshman Jason Boyd (Littlestown, Pa./Littlestown) and a two-run shot by Burley.

In the top of the fourth, the Great Danes used eight hits and three Lafayette errors to post 10 runs. RBI doubles by Scott and Oliva and six singles from the remainder of the Albany lineup gave Albany a 16-7 lead.

The Leopards made a last gasp in the fifth frame, scoring five runs. Sophomore Brian Heyesey (Highstown, N.J./Highstown) connected for a pinch-hit double to drive in two runs. Lafayette also scored runs on a Gonser RBI-groundout and a wild pitch. Tambellini, who finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI, drove in the Leopards fifth run of the inning with a two-out double to left.

Albany (3-9) scored three runs in the sixth before the game was called due to darkness.

Sophomore Joe Saporetti (Woodbury Heights, N.J./Gateway Regional) got the mound loss, surrendering 14 runs (4 earned) in three and two thirds innings. Saporetti (0-3) struck out seven and walked just one. Shawn Walsh was the winner, throwing five and two thirds with five walks, two strikeouts and 14 runs (9 earned).

Lafayette (2-10) remains at home tomorrow in more doubleheader action. The first pitch vs. Binghamton is scheduled for noon.