April 14, 2006
Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2
EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette used two solid pitching performances to roll up a doubleheader sweep of Bucknell on Friday in Patriot League baseball action.
In game one, Matt Revelle scattered seven hits and allowed just two runs and set the stage for Ian Law's game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh in a 3-2 victory. In the nightcap, Matt Kamine threw seven strong innings and allowed just two runs before giving way to Jason Morytko who finished off the game for the Leopards' 6-2 win.
Friday's action snapped Bucknell's seven-game winning streak and breaks the Leopards' tie with Bucknell for second place in the Patriot League standings. Lafayette stands at 17-15 overall and 7-3 in league play while the Bison are 14-19, 5-5.
In the opener, Bucknell struck first in the first. With two outs in the inning, Kyle Walter doubled and Ryan Gryskevicz followed with his own two-bagger to give Bucknell a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, the Bucknell offense again came through with two outs. With a runner at third, Revelle made a solid pitch to Gryskevicz who fisted a ball to third base. Frank Cortazar, who went 3-for-4 in game two, used a bare-handed pickup, but his throw to first was a split second too late to get Gryskevicz who gave the Bison a 2-0 advantage.
Mike Raible's lead-off walk got things started for Lafayette in the fourth. Tom Hayes used a shallow single to right put Raible at third before Chris Luick drove him with an RBI-groundout.
Lafayette tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Again, Raible initiated the offense, this time with a lead-off single. Designated hitter Kevin Leasure was able to lay down a sac bunt and move Raible to second. Hayes came to the plate and grounded to short where Matt Capece had Raible out at third, but made a bad throw to allow Raible to arrive safely. With Luick at the plate, Bucknell starter Matt Curry faked a pick-off throw to third and caught Hayes leaning at first. The Bison ran down Hayes but allowed Raible to score and tie the game.
In the top of the seventh, Bucknell threatened with a runner at second, two outs and No. 3 hitter Walter at the plate with first base open. After head coach Joe Kinney's mound visit to talk to Revelle, Kinney left confident in the senior co-captain. Revelle came through, striking out Walter to preserve the tie.
In the bottom of the seventh, James Conrad (2-for-3) led off the inning with a single past a diving Capece. Pinch hitter Ryan Roberts sacrificed him to second with a bunt at the Leopards prepared to play small ball in the final inning. The next batter, pinch hitter Jeff Butler, struck out swinging, but that brought senior co-captain Ian Law (2-for-3) to the batter's box. Law smoked a single to center. Walter slipped when initially breaking on the ball which likely would have dropped. His throw to the plate was off-line, and Conrad crossed home to award Lafayette the 3-2 victory.
Revelle (4-2) picked up fourth victory in his third complete game of the season. He struck out four and allowed two runs on seven hits. Curry (2-6) was the loser, tossing 6.2 innings while surrendering three runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
In the second game of the twinbill, the two teams traded runs in the fourth inning. The Bison drew first blood scoring on an error in the top of the inning. Lafayette answered back in the bottom half tying the game on a wild pitch.
The Leopards tacked on two crucial runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With runners on second and third and one out Hayes singled in a run. After Raible was hit by a pitch, Tom Ambrosole came to the plate with the bases loaded. He lifted a sac fly to center and Tyler Zeronda, who walked three times in the game, scored. Lafayette led 3-1.
In the seventh, Bucknell cut into Lafayette's lead. Chris Pieper's one-out triple set the stage for Chris Brannan to single him in and put the score at 3-2.
The Leopards put the game away in the eighth inning. With two outs in the inning and runners on first and second, Law hit a ground ball to Capece at shortstop that looked to end the inning. Capece one-hopped the throw to first base and the ball rolled back up the line in foul territory. Two runs scored on the play and as the ball rolled around and Law advanced all the way to third. Law scored on another Capece error as Lafayette took a 6-2 lead.
Kamine (3-2) pitched seven complete innings, striking out five while allowing two runs on five hits. He won in his second straight start. Jason Morytko came on to relieve him in the eighth and allowed just two hits in two innings and struck out two for his first save of the year. Jacob Moss (3-2) took the loss for Bucknell, surrendering three runs on six hits in 5.1 innings. Ian Rainey threw 2.1 and gave up three unearned runs for the Bison.
Lafayette and Bucknell will close out the series on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
