May 1, 2004
Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. - Lafayette baseball split the first two games of a four-game series with New York Tech on Saturday, winning game one 6-4 before dropping game two 4-0.
In the opener, the Leopards (20-22) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Jeff Rogers was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and eventually scored on a wild pitch by NYIT starter Andrew Karkoulas. Adam Bucci knocked in Rob Fioretti on an RBI groundout later in the inning to give Lafayette the 2-0 lead.
NYIT did not flinch, scoring a run in the first and the second to tie the game at 2-2. Lafayette starter Marcus Ward walked the first batter of the home first, Kraig Binnick, and he later scored on Jelani Arnold's RBI single. The Bears added another run in the bottom half of the second when Binick plated Jon Atanasio with a run-scoring double.
The Leopards claimed the lead for good in the third inning, using Adam Rosenberg's ninth home run of the season to take a 3-2 lead. Then, in the sixth, Craig Alexander connected for his first home run since April 17, a two-run shot that gave Lafayette a 6-2 margin.
NYIT put together a rally in the sixth inning, connecting for back-to-back RBI-triples, the first by Anthony St. George off Ward and the second by Gary Needham off Lafayette reliever Drew Moyer. Moyer stopped the bleeding, however and recorded the final out of the sixth and sent NYIT down in order in the seventh to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
Ward improved to 6-1 on the season after the victory, while Karkoulas fell to 0-6.
In game two, Lafayette could not get the bats going against NYIT starter Joe Esposito. The freshman tossed a seven- inning, two hit shut-out to improve to 3-4.
NYIT (13-24) gave Esposito an early 1-0 lead as Binick reached on an error, stole second and then scored on a Karkoulas RBI-single. That would be all the run support Esposito would need as he allowed just a single in the fourth to Rosenberg and another in the sixth to James Conrad.
Solo homeruns by Mike Kearney, Arnold and Binick off Lafayette starter Brian Cope put the final at 4-0. Cope (2-2) threw five innings and allowed four runs on six hits while striking out three. Don Smith pitched a scoreless sixth for the Leopards.
Lafayette returns home on Sunday to host NYIT in a doubleheader at the Class of 1978 Stadium. Lafayette's 11 seniors will be honored prior to the game that is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
