Feb. 22, 2009
Box Score
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Lafayette was forced to use eight pitchers in an attempt to pull off a come-from-behind victory against Davidson but the Leopards fell on the losing side of a 12-5 decision. Lafayette did manage 10 hits off Wildcat pitchers but Davidson's offense came up with 10 runs, including a five-run eighth inning, en route to the win.
Lafayette pitcher Jeremy Atkins started the game and surrendered four runs on four hits in four innings of work. Following Atkins' departure, seven Leopard pitchers came on in relief but combined to give up eight runs.
Senior catcher Ian McCutcheon drove in a team-high three runs while Daniel Bierce and Matt Hall added two hits apiece for Lafayette (2-1). Bierce finished the three-games in Davidson with seven hits and four runs scored.
Both teams came through with two first-inning runs. Rob Froio led off the game with a single to left field, advanced to third on Jeff Butler's single to right field and scored on a McCutcheon sac fly. Brad Weiss then singled Butler home, giving the Leopards an early 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats (3-1) tagged Atkins for two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Matt Webb knocked a RBI single to center field and an error by Bierce led to the tying run.
Davidson took a 4-2 lead in the third inning. Atkins gave up a leadoff double to Brett Shore who advanced to third on Webb's single and came around to score on a wild pitch. Chase Fitzpatrick hit a sac fly to right field, scoring Webb and giving the Wildcats the two-run advantage.
That lead did not last long as the Leopards erupted for three runs in the fifth inning. They led off the inning with back-to-back singles off the bats of Froio and Bierce, and McCutcheon drove both players home with a RBI single down the right field line. A Davidson error and a fielder's choice allowed McCutcheon to score, making it a 5-4 ballgame.
Three Lafayette pitchers took the mound in the sixth inning, which saw Davidson regain the lead. Joseph Verdon entered the game in the bottom of the sixth but gave up a double and a walk before Tyler Chromey came into the game. Chromey surrendered a three-run home run to Chris Fitzpatrick to hand the 7-5 lead back to Davidson. Sean McGrath became the third pitcher to see action for the Leopards and the rookie struck out two batters to get out of the inning.
Davidson pushed another five runs across in their half of the eighth inning against relievers Jack Rems, Adam Young and Ethan Perro. The Wildcats scored their runs on RBI hits from Webb, Brett Shore and Chase Fitzpatrick. A Perro wild pitch led to the fifth run.
Lafayette hits the road again next weekend with three games at James Madison, beginning on Friday at 3 p.m.
Postgame Notes:
- The Leopards have now opened their season with a 2-1 record for third straight year.
- Head coach Joe Kinney remains at 189 career victories (all at Lafayette).
