March 14, 2007
Box Score
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Wofford scored nine runs in the middle innings to erase Lafayette's early lead and pull away to an 18-6 victory in non-conference baseball action on Wednesday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
Lafayette cranked out 15 hits to Wofford's 17, but the Leopards left 14 runners on base and allowed the Terriers (15-4) to pull away.
The game was close through the early going. Lafayette (5-5) got to Wofford starter Jesse Cole for a run in the first. James Conrad, who finished the day 5-for-6, singled through the left side of the infield and then stole second. Cole walked the next two Lafayette batters to load the bases with no outs. The next batter, Dave Drechsel, grounded into a double play but Conrad scored to give Lafayette a 1-0 advantage.
Lafayette took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Kevin Leasure led off with a double. He benefited from a Chip Hunt wild pitch and moved up to third. Tom Ambrosole drove in Leasure with a sac fly.
Wofford got one run back in the bottom of the fourth. Brandon Waring, who was on second, was running with a Brad Woodfield pitch and scored on a single to cut Lafayette's lead to 2-1.
Lafayette loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, but could not push across a run. Drechsel grounded into a 5-2-3 doubleplay. Then Leasure ripped a ball to rightfield, but the Wofford fielder was able to get under it just in front of the warning track to end the threat.
Woodfield, who was starting for the first time in his collegiate career, gave up a lead-off single to Michael Gilmartin. Wofford again used the hit-and-run successfully, as Gilmartin was running with the pitch when Bradford Eaves doubled down the leftfield line. Kyle Behrendt double in two more runs to give the Terriers a 5-2 lead.
Lafayette trimmed the lead to 5-4 in the top of the sixth. Ambrosole doubled to left to start off the frame. Chris Luick hit a ball right back through the box to score him. The hit-and-run was on, with Luick leaving from first, and he jogged home thanks to a Ryan Roberts' double the opposite way.
Wofford put the game away with seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Shane Kirkley connected for a two-run home run in the sixth. In the seventh Keith Munns hit a solo shot, and two batters later Gilmartin pounded out a two-run blast to right to give Wofford a 12-4 advantage.
Wofford scored six more runs in the eighth while Lafayette added a run in the eighth and ninth. Conrad, who leads the team in runs scored, came plateward on a Mike Raible sac fly in the eighth. In the ninth, Lafayette loaded the bases and Conrad came through with a single to score Ian McCutcheon and put the final at 18-6.
Woodfield (0-1) took the loss, giving up four runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He was one of seven Lafayette pitchers used in the game. The bullpen combined to give up 14 runs on 11 hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Hunt (1-1) received the win, allowing one run on three hits in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Leopards will play the final series of their Spring Break trip on Friday and Saturday, traveling to High Point for a three-game set. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
NOTES: Lafayette will have Thursday off from competition, but will practice in the morning at Wofford before departing for High Point, N.C.
Dan Tavani, son of Lafayette head football coach Frank Tavani, was in attendance for Wednesday's game. Dan is a junior member of the Wofford football team, which is currently in spring practice.
During the game, eight trains passed behind the outfield fence where there was a railroad switching station.
