March 20, 2009

Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. - Lafayette continued its offensive struggles as the Leopards dropped a 5-2 decision to Longwood in the first of a three-game weekend series. Lafayette, which lost its fifth straight contest, managed only eight hits against the Lancers.

Starter Jeremy Atkins had solid showing, allowing just four earned runs in 7.1 innings of work but the Lafayette bats pushed across only two runs in the top of the seventh. Jeff Butler and Justin Shepherd led the team with 2-for-3 efforts with Butler also adding two RBI.

Atkins shut out the Lancers for the first three innings before giving up back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the fourth. Both runners scored on a passed ball and a Lafayette error.

Longwood (13-7) tacked on another two runs in the sixth inning with the first run scoring on a Jonathan Quigley RBI single. David Smiy Jr. was caught trying to steal but during the rundown Quigley came around to score to make it 4-0.

The Leopards (7-8) scored their only two runs in the top of the next inning. Shepherd led off with a single, Rob Froio knocked another single and advanced to second on the throw to put runners on second and third with one out for Butler. Butler drove both runners home with a single to centerfield to cut the lead to two.

Unfortunately the Lancers responded with another run in the eighth inning courtesy of a Smiy Jr. triple to right field. Rookie Ian Dickson pitched the final two-thirds of an inning for Lafayette and struck out one of the two batters he faced.

The Leopards conclude their week on the road tomorrow with a doubleheader against Longwood beginning at 1 p.m.

Postgame Notes:
- Longwood now leads the all-time series 3-2.
- Head coach Joe Kinney remains at 194 career wins (all at Lafayette).