April 1, 2001

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette baseball team finished off its first weekend of Patriot League play with a pair of losses at Bucknell on Sunday, losing 5-3 in the opener and 11-4 in the nightcap.

In game one, Bucknell took the early lead with three runs in the bottom of the second, piecing together four straight hits in a two-out rally. Brad Gething drove home Bucknell's first run with a single and Russ Lindberg followed with a two-run double to left center.

Lafayette charged back to tie the game with three runs in the top of the third. Junior Vince D'Angelis (Montvale, N.J./St. Joseph's Regional) made his lone hit of the game count, cracking a two-run single through the left side. Bucknell starter Ross Aron walked the bases loaded and junior Jon Kline (Hingham, Mass./Thayer Academy) plated the Leopards' final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game at 3-3.

Bucknell pulled ahead to stay with two runs in the fourth. An RBI-groundout by John DiBonaventura with the bases loaded proved the be the game-winning RBI. The Bison tacked on an insurance run later in the inning on a sac fly.

Bucknell reliever Kevin Miller sent the Leopards down in order over the final three innings. Miller earned the win, throwing four and two-thirds innings while allowing no runs and just two hits. Sophomore Matt Tambellini (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart) took the loss to fall to 1-3. Tambellini allowed five runs in five innings with three strikeouts and three walks.

Lafayette freshman Jason Boyd (Littlestown, Pa./Littlestown) enjoyed his most prolific output of the season with a 3-for-4 game at the plate from the second spot in the order.

In the night cap, Lafayette drew first blood, scoring four runs in the top of the fourth of off Bucknell starter R.J. Grant. Grant walked in Lafayette's first run with four straight walks. Junior Tye Gonser (The Dalles, Ore./the Dalles) followed with a single to left-center to drive in two more runs for a 3-0 lead. Zach Allen came on in relief and promptly allowed Boyd to single home Lafayette's final run of the inning to give the 'Pards a 4-0 advantage.

Bucknell didn't waste any time tying the game. The Bison's first run scored on an error and Chris Herron drove in two more runs with a single down the rightfield line. Larry Scheetz plated the tying run with an RBI-single to put the score at 4-4.

Bucknell (14-9, 4-0) put the game out of reach with a seven-run fifth inning. Gething opened the inning with a double that sent Lafayette freshman starter Marcus Ward (New Tripoli, Northwestern Lehigh) from the hill. Senior Ross Butler (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) entered the game and promptly plunked two batters to load the bases. On the next at-bat, Ritz drew a walk to score Joseph with what turned out to be the winning run. A two-run single and a from Fishman and a triple from Jeff Peck gave Bucknell a 9-4 lead. After a sac fly scored BU's 10 run, Joseph closed out the inning with a solo home run to take an 11-4 lead.

Allen worked 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit, to pick up his first win of the season. Ward was charged with the loss, surrendering five runs (4 earned) on six hits, a walk and a strikeout.

Joseph and Scheetz each went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Bison offense, while Peck and Herron each recorded three RBIs. Boyd once again led the Lafayette attack with two hits to finish the day 5-for-7.

Lafayette (4-15, 0-4) returns home to face Drexel on Wedenesday. The opening pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at Metzgar Fields.