March 15, 2008
Box Score
BRADENTON, Fla. - Lafayette starting pitcher Kevin Reese pitched 7.1 innings of two-run ball but Illinois State recorded a 2-1 victory over the Leopards on Saturday in Bradenton, Fla. Lafayette hitters managed just six hits on the afternoon, including two by shortstop Dan Bierce.
Reese and the Lafayette bullpen held the Redbirds to just four hits but the Leopards' offense could not come up with a key hit and suffered the 2-1 setback. Hayes was the lone Lafayette player with multiple hits while designated hitter Joe Ezekiel scored the team's only run. Lafayette's record now stands at 5-3 while Illinois State recorded its fifth-straight win to improve to 9-5.
Lafayette put two runners on base in the top of the first inning as Bierce and Matt Hall hit back-to-back singles but Ezekiel grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Reese opened the game by retiring the side in order but Illinois State loaded the bases in the second inning with three-straight singles. Reese then induced a RBI ground out by Dan Weston and a flyout by Cole Marty to escape the inning with just one run.
Lafayette opened the fourth inning with a walk to Hall and an Ezekiel single to left field to put two runners on base. Ezekiel stole second but Hall was caught in a rundown for the inning's second out. Tom Hayes then came through with a clutch, two-out RBI single to centerfield to send Ezekiel home and tie the game at one.
The Redbirds scored one run in the bottom of the fifth Reese surrendered a one-out walk to Marty. Mike Stalowy was then hit by a pitch before he and Marty completed a double steal to put runners on second and third with one out. A sac bunt by Kevin Tokarski scored Marty to give Illinois State a slim 2-1 margin after five innings of play.
Lafayette threatened in its half of the sixth inning when Bierce reached on an error to open the inning. He stole second and with two outs swiped his second base of the inning but was stranded on third as two Lafayette batters struck out to end the inning.
Reese rebounded from the lengthy fifth inning to retire the Redbirds in order in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Reese gave up a one-out single to Tokarski and Lafayette went to its bullpen, bringing in Corey Shea, who retired Kevin Dubler on a fly ball. Brad Woodfield then entered the game for Lafayette with two outs and got pinch hitter Anthony Ruffolo to pop out to second base to end the inning and keep the Redbirds from scoring.
Tom Ambrosole had a one-out single in the top of the ninth but Lafayette failed to get him home as Illinois State held on for the 2-1 win.
The Leopards will play a doubleheader against Harvard at Manatee Community College on Sunday with the first game beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Postgame Notes:
- Today's game marked the first-ever meeting between these teams.
- Starting pitcher Kevin Reese still needs just one win for his 13th career victory, which would tie him for 11th all-time.
