April 27, 2008
Box Score
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Lafayette baseball team began the final day of the Patriot League season with a 5-3 win over Army before dropping a 3-1 decision in the second game of a doubleheader. The loss eliminated the Leopards from qualifying for the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2005.
Freshman Zach Fritz pitched five-plus innings and earned his second win of the season by holding the Black Knights to three runs. The Lafayette offense, led by A.J. Miller's team-high three hits, provided Fritz with five runs of support in the win. Shortstop Daniel Bierce had two hits as he and Miller combined for more than half of Lafayette's hits in the game (9).
The Leopards (20-21, 8-13) opened the game with three runs in the top of the first with four hits off Army starter Cole White. With one out, Bierce and Chris Luick hit back-to-back singles and Miller recorded the team's third consecutive single to plate Bierce for the 1-0 lead. Jeff Butler followed with the inning's third single to score Luick. Matt Hall drew a walk to load the bases and a Tom Hayes sacrifice fly made it a 3-0 Lafayette lead.
Fritz allowed just two singles in the first two innings before giving up two runs in the third inning on RBI singles to White and Kyle McKague, cutting Lafayette's lead to one (3-2).
The Leopards scored two runs of their own in the top of the fourth. A.J. Pisarri reached first on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a Ryan Roberts ground out. Freshman Rob Froio then knocked a RBI single to right field and advanced to third on an error by Army right fielder Kyle Stramara. A wild pitch allowed Froio to score the second run of the inning and give the Leopards a 5-2 edge.
Army (21-21, 13-7) made it a two-run game with a run in the fifth inning. Andy Ernesto and White hit leadoff singles and McKague hit a RBI single through the left side for a 5-3 score. Lafayette went to its bullpen, bringing in senior Jason Morytko, who recorded all three outs, including an inning-ending double play. Steve Roberts came in to pitch the top of the seventh and overcame one hit and two Lafayette errors to pitch out of trouble and secure the 5-3 win.
Junior Ryan Hanna started game two for the Leopards and held the Black Knights hitless through four innings. He got support from his offense with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Froio and Bierce led off with singles and Froio came around to score on Butler's single through the right side.
The Black Knights tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a one-out Chris Simmons RBI double down the left field line. Hanna retired the next two batters to keep it a tie game.
Army took the lead with two runs in the sixth inning, a lead it would no relinquish. With one out, Clint Moore singled to shortstop and Ernesto homered to left field to give his team the 3-1 lead. With one out, Brian Mostek came in from the bullpen and after giving up a double to White, got the final two outs of the inning.
Mortyko pitched a scoreless eighth inning but reliever Kirk Porter retired the Leopards in the top of the ninth as Lafayette dropped the final 3-1 decision.
The Leopards return home after a 16-game road trip to host Wagner on Tuesday, April 29, at 4 p.m.
