March 29, 2008

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EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette baseball team opened Patriot League play by splitting a doubleheader against Navy behind two solid pitching performances. The Leopards won the first game 2-1 before dropping the second by just one run, 3-2.

Lafayette (11-7, 1-1) won the first game thanks to eight solid innings from starter Kevin Reese, who recorded his second win of the season. Freshman Zach Fritz was just as impressive in the second game, earning the no-decision after throwing eight innings of one-run ball.

First baseman Chris Luick was the only Lafayette batter to record multiple hits in the first game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. In the second game, shortstop Dan Bierce also went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Lafayette narrowly out-hit the Mids in both games, including a 6-5 edge in the first game and a 7-6 advantage in the second.

Reese pitched a complete game for the Leopards in the opening contest, striking out seven Navy batters and while allowing just one unearned run on five hits. The Lafayette offense was kept quiet for much of the game by Navy starter Drake Oliver, who only surrendered six hits in his 7.2 innings of work.

Reese pitched into some trouble in the second inning, giving up a one-out double and a walk but he worked his way out of the jam by picking Kendall Bolt off second base and getting Nick Driscoll to strike out swinging.

Both teams had just two hits through the first three innings before Luick and Joe Ezekiel hit back-to-back one-out singles. Luick advanced to third on a fielder's choice and a two-out walk to catcher Tom Ambrosole loaded the bases. A wild pitch by Drake scored Luick to give Lafayette the 1-0 lead.

In the fifth, Navy put a runner on second with one out. Reese got Driscoll out on a called third strike but an error by Bierce allowed Bolt to score the game-tying run. Third baseman Jeff Butler made a great diving play on a ball hit by Michael Speciale to record the inning's final out, preventing any further Navy runs.

The game remained tied in the bottom of the seventh and Lafayette went down in order, sending the game to extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Ryan Roberts drew a leadoff walk and with one out stole second to put himself in scoring position. Luick came to bat and hit the ball to second base. Navy's second baseman mistakenly thought the ball had hit Luick but the play continued, allowing Roberts to score the game-winning run for a 2-1 Lafayette victory.

Fritz opened the second game by striking out the side in the top of the first inning and kept the Mids off the scoreboard through five-plus innings.

Ezekiel's one-out single in the fifth inning marked the Leopards' first hit of the game. Bierce followed with a single to shortstop, putting runners on first and second for Roberts, whose RBI single to left field scored Ezekiel and gave Lafayette a 1-0 lead. An error by the Navy shortstop allowed Bierce to score the inning's second run for Lafayette lead the end of five.

In the sixth inning, Speciale hit a leadoff triple off Fritz and came around to score on a groundout by Jonathan Wright, cutting Lafayette's lead to 2-1.

Lafayette went to its bullpen in the ninth, bringing in Brian Mostek. Mostek hit Wright to open the inning and Wright advanced to second on a wild pitch. Thomas Hamilton then came to bat, still with no outs, and knocked a two-run home run to right field, giving Navy a 3-2 lead. Lafayette went to its bullpen again, as Steve Roberts relieved Mostek and recorded three-straight outs, including a groundball double play, to end the inning.

Navy's closer, J.D. Melton, retired the Leopards in order in the ninth, securing his team's 3-2 win.

The Leopards and Midshipmen (15-9, 1-1) conclude their series with another doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 12 p.m.

Postgame Notes:
- Lafayette has now won four of its previous six games against the Midshipmen.
- Joe Ezekiel recorded hits in both games on Saturday, extending his hit streak to seven games.
- Kevin Reese now has 13 career wins, tying him for 11th all-time in Lafayette history.
- Reese also now has 141 career strikouts, moving him into sole possession of 10th place.