March 25, 2002
Box Score
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette held a lead through seven innings behind starter Matt Tambellini, but Ohio State rallied with eight runs in the seventh and eighth innings to grab an 8-4 victory on Monday in the Homestead Challenge.
The Leopards took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Craig Alexander, who reached on a lead-off walk, later scored on an RBI-single from Adam Bucci.
The Leopards added to their lead with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. Bucci again connected for a run-scoring single, this time with the bases loaded. The Leopards' next batter Jeff Rodgers drove in the second run of the inning, with a fielder's choice to give Lafayette a 3-0 lead.
Tye Gonser led off the Lafayette seventh with a walk and promptly scored on an RBI-double by Jason Boyd that gave Lafayette a 4-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Ohio State sliced the Lafayette margin to one run by scoring three runs off Tambellini. Christian Snavely doubled to right field to lead off the inning. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases and prompted head coach Joe Kinney to bring in reliever Kevin Swords. A wild pitch scored Snavely from third and put runners on second and third. A sacrifice and a second wild pitch made it 4-3.
Ohio State (11-3-1) took its first lead of the day and control of the game with five runs in the bottom of the eighth. The Buckeyes fell one batter short of batting around in the inning. Lance Rolston, Drew Anderson and Doug Dendinger each connected for RBI singles. Joe Wilkins plated the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded fielder's choice.
Swords (0-2) got the loss for Lafayette after replacing Tambellini in the seventh inning. Swords threw 1.2 innings and allowed five runs on four hits. Tambellini pitched six innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four. Davis picked up the win going 2.2 innings, giving up two hits and the Leopards' fourth run of the game. Ohio State starter Trent Luyster went out of the game in the sixth inning after giving up Lafayette's first three runs on four hits. He walked four while only striking out two. Brandon Steen pitched a scoreless ninth for Ohio State.
Lafayette (7-7) returns to action on Wednesday at Florida International.
