March 25, 2007
Box Score
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - One day after cranking out 21 hits, the Lafayette offense could not get going, managing just four hits in a 3-1 loss vs. Binghamton on Sunday at Long Island University Field.
Binghamton's Jeff Dennis (1-0) threw seven strong innings in the mound victory. The sophomore allowed one run on two hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Binghamton (6-4) took the lead in the top of the third inning when No. 9 hitter Kyle Klee lifted Lafayette starter Matt Kamine's two-strike offering over the left field fence.
Lafayette (7-9) tied the game in the fourth inning. Senior James Conrad led off with a single that he ripped back up the middle off Dennis. Dennis picked up the ball but threw it away at first, allowing Conrad to advance to second. Conrad put himself 90 feet closer to home when he stole third. The next batter, Jeff Butler, hit a slow roller to shortstop that scored Conrad and allowed him to reach first safely. The inning ended when Butler was cut down trying to steal second.
Binghamton took the lead for good in the sixth inning. Justin Smucker connected for a ground-rule double as his deep fly ball got stuck in the leftfield fence. Kamine struck out the next batter to leave two outs in the inning, but Matt Simek singled to left to score Smucker and give Binghamton the 2-1 lead. Kamine earned all three outs in the inning via strikeout.
The Bearcats used the long ball to add an insurance run in the seventh when Joe Charron homered to left.
Lafayette threatened in the final two innings, placing runners on the corners in each frame. With two outs in the eighth against Binghamton reliever Gio Yannuzzi, pinch hitter Justin Shepherd drew a walk. The next batter, pinch hitter Ian McCutcheon, ripped a two-strike offering to left centerfield to put runners on the corners. Conrad came to the plate to face reliever Khalid Afify who ended the inning with a groundout.
Lafayette had its final chance in the ninth. Daniel Bierce reached on a fielding error, stole second and later moved to third when Kevin Leasure singled the opposite way. Afify struck out Ryan Roberts to end the game and earn his second save of the season.
Kamine took the loss, despite striking out a season-high nine batters. He allowed three runs on eight hits over eight innings. Jason Morytko threw the ninth inning and retired Binghamton in order after Brian Mostek gave up a lead-off single. The Lafayette staff did not walk a batter in the game.
Lafayette returns to action on Tuesday at Villanova in the opening round of the Liberty Bell Classic. Opening pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
