March 13, 2004
Box Score
HAYWARD, Calif. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette baseball team opened its seven-game Spring Break trip to California with a 6-4 loss to Cal State Hayward on Saturday afternoon at Pioneers Field.
A two-run home run in the seventh inning by Cal State Hayward (13-3) centerfielder Archie Gilbert was the decisive blow.
After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the second inning, Lafayette managed to take a 1-0 lead in the visitor third. Jason Boyd tripled to center to lead off the inning and scored when Craig Alexander rolled a ground ball to first.
Cal State Hayward took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lafayette starter Marcus Ward issued a two-out walk to Manny Merel after striking out the No. 4 and No. 5 batters in the order. The speedy Merel then stole second and scored on an RBI-double by Adam Lane. The Pioneers took a 2-1 advantage on a two-out throwing error by Eric Vacca that allowed Lane to score.
Lafayette wasted no time re-taking the lead in the fifth. After Adam Rosenberg collected a one-out walk, Boyd connected for his second extra-base hit of the day, a double down the leftfield line that left runners on second and third with one out. A scorching lineout to third base by Craig Alexander left it up to Adam Bucci who ripped a bases-clearing triple off the wall in right center to give Lafayette a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Cal State Hayward put up a two-spot for the second straight inning, and for the second straight inning was aided by a Lafayette throwing error. The Pioneers tied the game, 3-3, on a two-out double by Ryan Lymangrover. He later scored on a throwing error by Ian Law and gave Cal State Hayward the 4-3 lead.
The Leopards scored the tying run in the top of the sixth. Rob Fioretti tripled to lead-off the inning and Alexander's sac fly plated him to make the score 4-4.
Cal State Hayward dealt the winning blow in the bottom of the eighth when Gilbert knocked a 1-0 Don Smith offering over the leftfield fence to give the Pioneers a 6-4 lead. Smith threw one inning and allowed two runs on one hit.
Lafayette had one last chance in the top of the ninth. The Leopards put two runners on after Ted Kramer drew a walk and pinch hitter Frank Cortazar came through with a single. Cal State Hayward reliever Eric Willes retired the next three batters, including catching a screaming ground ball from Boyd, to earn his fourth save of the season.
Philip Monte, who pitched the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, earned the win to move to 4-1. He allowed one run on three hits. Trevor Lewis, who started the game, tossed five innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Lafayette starter Ward also received a no decision. He surrendered four runs (2 earned) on eight hits over seven innings, striking out seven and walking two. Reliever Drew Moyer threw a scoreless seventh for the Leopards.
Lafayette (3-5) will have one day off before returning to action on Monday vs. San Francisco State. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT.
