April 17, 2007
Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Lafayette completed the series sweep of Bucknell by registering a pair of wins in a Tuesday Patriot League baseball doubleheader. In the first game, Kevin Reese scattered four hits over seven innings in a 3-2 victory. In the series finale, the Lafayette offense scored seven runs over the first four innings to hang on for a 10-6 decision.
The Leopards improve to 21-12 overall and 11-1 in Patriot League play while Bucknell goes to 13-18, 5-7. With two conference weekends remaining, Lafayette resides in first place in the Patriot League standings, just two games ahead of Navy (28-12, 9-3). Tuesday's doubleheader was originally scheduled for Sunday, but was pushed back due to inclement weather.
In the opener, Lafayette set the tone by manufacturing a run in the first inning. James Conrad reached base on an error. Jeff Butler's ground ball moved Conrad to second, and Conrad did the rest on his own, stealing third and drawing an errant throw on the steal that allowed him to score. Lafayette led 1-0.
The Leopards scored a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings. A Butler lead-off walk got things going again and a sac bunt moved him to second. Tom Hayes' infield single put runners on the corners with two outs. A fielding error by the Bucknell second basemen gave Lafayette a 2-0 advantage.
The running game again provided Lafayette with some offense in the fifth. Daniel Bierce's infield single and another Butler walk put runners on first and second. The duo stole second and third and Bierce later scored on a wild pitch.
Bucknell did not get to Reese until the bottom of the fifth inning, and Lafayette helped out the Bison with an error in the inning. Both runs, which came on ground outs, were unearned. Reese collected his fourth win of the season to improve to 4-1. He tossed seven innings, allowing two runs (both unearned) on four hits with two strikeouts.
In the series finale, Lafayette's offensive output in the early innings led to a 10-6 victory.
Lafayette scored three in the first. Mike Raible singled in two runs and Chris Luick's ground ball with the bases loaded plated another run. That run chased Bucknell starter Bryan Snyder from the game. In the second frame, Raible singled in another run to give Lafayette a 4-0 lead.
Bucknell managed to get one run back in the third before Lafayette lit up the scoreboard with three more runs in the fourth inning. Conrad singled home classmate Dave Drechsel (single) and fellow senior Kevin Leasure drove in two more with his own single.
The Leopards led 8-1 through six innings. In the sixth, Leasure connected for a two-bagger that scored Butler who reached after getting hit by a pitch.
Lafayette starter Jeremy Atkins gave way to Jason Morytko to start the seventh. Morytko gave up three runs on two hits before Brad Woodfield spelled him. Woodfield (1.1 IP, 2 R, 3 H) pitched the eighth and three batters into the ninth before John Fugett came on in relief.
Atkins was the victor, striking out four while allowing one run on two hits in six innings. Snyder took the loss, responsible for three runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Luick added some insurance in the top of the ninth, blasting a two-run home run with Ryan Roberts aboard for the 10-6 final.
The Leopards will return to action on Thursday, hosting Columbia at 4 p.m. Patriot League play continues this weekend at the Class of 1978 Stadium with a four-game series vs. Lehigh.
