March 21, 2008
Box Score
NEWARK, Del. - A six-run first inning helped guide the Lafayette baseball team to a 12-7 win against Delaware in the first game of a doubleheader. The Leopards then dropped the series finale to the Blue Hens by a score of 15-2.
In the afternoon's first game, Lafayette (9-6) scored runs in the first five innings, including a six-run first inning that featured doubles by Tom Hayes and Dan Bierce. Matt Hall had a two RBI single to get the scoring started and Bierce's double plated the fourth and fifth runs of the inning. Bierce scored on an error by the catcher to give Lafayette a 6-0 cushion before the Blue Hens even came to the plate.
The Leopards tacked on solo runs in the second and third innings and two more in the fourth to give the Leopards a 10-0 lead. A second-inning solo home run from first baseman Chris Luick made the score 7-0 and Jeff Butler's RBI single in the third inning upped Lafayette's lead to eight (8-0). Two more hits in the fourth inning resulted in two additional Lafayette runs, including a Rob Froio steal of home plate to make the score 9-0.
Delaware (6-14) scored its first runs off starter Jeremy Atkins in the fourth inning after a Scott Shockley three-run home run to right field that made it a 10-3 ballgame.
Two more Lafayette runs were scored in the fifth inning before Delaware put up three runs in the bottom of the inning against Atkins with another three-run home run of the afternoon, this time off the bat of Jared Olson, to make the score 12-6.
Lafayette reliever Jason Morytko entered the game in the top of the sixth inning and the Blue Hens plated a run, cutting Lafayette's lead to five (12-7). Morytko shutout Delaware for the remainder of the game as Lafayette recorded the 12-7 victory with Atkins earning his second win of the season.
Despite scoring two runs in the top of the first inning of the second game, the Delaware offense broke through for 15 runs, including eight in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Leopards' first inning runs came on three hits with Joe Ezekiel driving in Hayes for the first run. Brad Weiss' single through the right side scored Hall to give Lafayette a 2-0 lead.
That score stood until Delaware scored a run in the bottom of the third off Lafayette starter Zach Fritz and then took the lead with a three-run fourth inning. Pat Dameron singled and drove in two runs while Chris Nehl's triple also sent home a runner to give Delaware a 4-2 edge.
In the fifth inning, Delaware scored eight runs off Leopard reliever Brad Woodfield. Woodfield surrendered three-run home runs to Bill Merkler and Kyle Davis as the Blue Hens took a 12-2 lead.
Steve Roberts entered the game in bottom of the eighth inning and gave up the game's final three runs to up Delaware's lead to 15-2. The Lafayette offense managed just four hits in the game and left seven runners on base.
The Leopards open their home season against Penn on Tuesday with a 3 p.m. game.
Postgame Notes:
- The last time Lafayette opened the season with a 10-6 record was during the 1992 season. That team finished with an overall record of 22-12.
- The Leopards have now won five of the last seven games against the Blue Hens.
