April 9, 2001

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Banner offensive days from Ian Burley (Nazareth, Pa./Notre Dame) and Craig Alexander (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) helped Lafayette earn a split vs. Lehigh on Monday in Patriot League baseball action at Metzgar Fields. Lafayette won the first game 13-10, but lost the second offensive battle 15-10.

In the opener, a home run by starting pitcher Matt Tambellini (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart) got the Lafayette offense going in the first inning. The first of Burley's five doubles on the day plated Lafayette's second run. Burley ended the game 3-for-3, with three doubles.

Lehigh struck back with seven runs over the next three innings, scoring one in the second, five in the third and one in the fourth. Lafayette managed a lone run in the bottom of the third and trailed 7-3 going into the bottom of the fourth.

Lafayette silenced the Lehigh dugout with a seven-run fourth inning. After a lead-off double from Burley, Alexander smashed his fourth home run of the season. RBI-singles from Brian Heyessey (Highstown, N.J./Highstown) and Jason Boyd (Littlestown, Pa./Littlestown) plated the third and fourth runs of the inning. A two-run double by D'Angelis and an RBI-double from Burley gave Lafayette the 10-7 lead.

Lehigh managed to tie the game by the top of the sixth inning. The Mountain Hawks scored a run in the fifth on a Jesse Novalis home run. Pat Hollander's two-run single in the sixth tied the game at 10-10.

Lafayette answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Alexander's sac fly with the bases loaded proved to game-winning connection. RBI-singles from freshmen Eric Vacca (Philadelphia, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy) and Adam Rosenberg (Ocean Grove, N.J./Neptune) provided Lafayette with two insurance runs.

Lafayette reliever James Duer (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) closed the door in the Lehigh seventh, retiring the Mountain Hawks in order. Duer (2-0) threw four innings of relief, scattering four hits, four runs (3 earned) while striking out five and walking none. Josh Hillman took the loss for Lehigh, going two and a third innings while allowing five runs (3 earned).

The nightcap was more of the same offense for both teams, as Lehigh held on for the 15-10 decision.

Neither team wasted any time getting the bats going in the second game. Lehigh struck first, scoring seven runs on six hits in the top of the first. A three-run homer by Jeremy Mack and a two-run dinger from Rob Moran were the biggest blows of the inning, the latter driving Lafayette starter Marcus Ward (New Tripoli, Pa./Nothwestern Lehigh) from the game after facing seven batters.

The Leopards got four of the runs back in the bottom of the inning. D'Angelis doubled down the rightfield line to plate the first two runs. Alexander drove him home with a two-run home run to left. Alexander's blast mnade it five straight games in which he has connected for a round-tripper. He finished the game 3-for-3 with three RBI.

More of the long ball came out in the Lehigh second, as Chad Thoman led off with a home run to center. Thoman finished the game 5-for-5. Lehigh took a 10-4 lead at the end of a Mountain Hawk third inning which included two more runs.

Lafayette cut the margin to 10-6 in the bottom of the inning. Burley (double) and Alexander (singled) each drove in runs.

Lehigh seemingly put the game out of reach with a four-run fourth inning. Three RBI-singles gave Lehigh a 14-6 advantage after three and a half innings.

Both teams scored a run in the fifth, Lehigh's coming on an RBI-single from Justin Pagan and Lafayette's on a wild pitch.

Lafayette made it interesting in its final at-bat, initiating a rally with two outs. Jon Kline (Hingham, Mass./Thayer Academy) singled to drive in Burley. Rosenberg plated two more runs to bring Lafayette within five, 15-10. A disputed call at first base however, ended the game on a groundout.

Offensively for the Leopards, Vacca went 3-for-4 to supplement Alexander's 3-for-3 game.

C.J. Heim was the winner for Lehigh (9-15, 3-5), allowing four runs over four innings. Ward took the loss.

Lafayette (7-18, 2-4) returns to action on Wednesday at Columbia.