April 25, 2001

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at Manhattan College on Wednesday. The Leopards lost 5-1 in the opener and 2-1 in the nightcap.

In the opener, Manhattan scored a pair of runs in the first. Wendell Anderson and Eric Sullivan both doubled home runs to give Manhattan a 2-0 lead.

Manhattan tacked on another run in the second on an RBI-groundout and two more in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead.

The Leopards struck for their only run of the game in the top of the sixth with one out. Freshman Adam Rosenberg (Ocean Grove, N.J./Neptune) doubled home Jeff Rodgers (Phoenix, Md./Loyola Blakefield) who had reached on an error. The Leopards rally ended, however, as starter Mike Sullivan and reliever David Preston induced senior Ian Burley (Nazareth, Pa./Notre Dame) to fly out and freshman Craig Alexander (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) to pop up.

Mike Sullivan got the win for Manhattan in five and two thirds innings of work. He allowed just two Lafayette hits. Sophomore Joe Saporetti (Woodbury Heights, N.J./Gateway Regional) took the loss, throwing two innings while scattering five hits and three runs.

In the nightcap, it was another pitcher's duel. Lafayette scored right of the bat, posting a run on the scoreboard in the first inning. Alexander singled home Rosenberg who had reached on a one-out single.

Lafayette starter Marcus Ward (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) allowed one Manhattan run in the bottom of the second. Paul Pulidore singled home Eric Sullivan to tie the game 1-1. Ward cruised over the next four innings.

The Leopards threatened in the top of the sixth. Alexander led off the inning with a single. Sophomore Brian Heyesey (Highstown, N.J./Highstown) advanced Alexander to scoring position with a single. A groundout moved Alexander to third prompting a pitching change. Manhattan brought in David Preston to face Jason Moll (Montville, N.J./Newark Academy) who popped out and Rodgers who grounded out to end the inning.

Ward pitched into the seventh. Sullivan led off the inning with a single for Manhattan. He moved to second on a single and to third base by tagging on a fly ball. No. 8 hitter Matt Cucurullo ended the game with his RBI-single.

Ward took the loss, despite throwing six and two thirds innings of five-hit baseball. David Preston got the win, allowing no hits over one and two thirds innings.

Lafayette (9-28) returns to action on Saturday and Sunday at Navy in the Leopards' final Patriot League series of the season.