March 6, 2005
Box Score
GASTONIA, N.C. - Lafayette completed a series sweep over Canisius with an 11-6 win on Sunday at Simms Stadium in Gastonia, N.C.
Lafayette (4-1) trailed 6-0 after the first inning but did not fold, battling back to take a 7-6 lead in the top of the sixth on a Kevin Leasure sacrifice fly. Leasure came through again in the top of the eighth inning when his two-run home run gave Lafayette a 9-6 advantage.
The story for the Leopards on the afternoon was the work of head coach Joe Kinney's bullpen. Sophomore Ted Gjeldum worked five innings and struck out four while securing the first victory of his career. Gjeldum allowed just two Canisius hits in his first appearance of the season.
Fellow sophomore John Fugett threw the final three innings of the game to earn the first save of his career. Fugett came into the game with the Leopards leading 7-6 and held the lead for the remainder of the contest. For the weekend series against Canisius (0-3), the Lafayette bullpen threw 13.1 innings and allowed just two runs (one unearned).
Sophomore Mike Raible connected for three hits on the day while senior captain Adam Bucci tagged a two-run base hit to help out the offensive cause.
Lafayette is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, hosting Hofstra at 3 p.m. at the Class of 1978 Stadium. If weather does not permit the game to be played, Lafayette will not play until Saturday in the first game of the Leopards' spring break trip to Florida. Lafayette is scheduled to play Boston College on Saturday in Boca Raton, the first of five games in the Sunshine State.
