April 16, 2009

Box Score | Photo Gallery

EASTON, Pa. - The Leopards used 15 hits and 13 runs to record a 13-6 decision over Temple on Thursday afternoon at Kamine Stadium. Five Lafayette batters had at least two hits as the squad won its fourth straight game.

The offense was highlighted by sophomore Adam McMahon's 4-for-5 performance with three RBI, including a two-run homer, his first of the season. Classmate Matt Fenster followed McMahon's sixth-inning homer with one of his own, the first of his career.

Head coach Joe Kinney used five pitchers in the win. Starter Ryan Hanna pitched a perfect two innings before giving way to the bullpen. The next three relievers combined to give up just two runs in six innings of work. Sophomore Adam Young, the fifth pitcher used in the game, gave up four runs in the ninth but ended the game with a strikeout to clinch the win.

Lafayette (18-16) scored multiple runs in the first three innings. In the first, Justin Shepherd knocked home two runs with a double to right field. The next inning, Rob Froio deposited another two-RBI double to right field, upping the Leopards' lead to four.

That 4-0 lead became a 7-0 advantage with three more runs in the third inning. Fenster doubled to right center to score McMahon, who had opened the inning with a single. Matt Hall followed with a RBI single and Ian McCutcheon's sac fly made it a 7-0 ballgame after just three innings.

Temple (13-18) scraped together a run in the fourth on Kyle Obal's RBI single off of Ethan Perro.

The Leopards put up three more runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. The sixth inning saw McMahon and Fenster hit their back-to-back homers, upping the lead to 10-1.

In the seventh, Froio singled to left center to score McCutcheon, who had reached on an infield single. Freshman Brian Davila's ground out to second allowed another run to score and McMahon's two-out single in the shortstop hole sent home the inning's third run to make it 13-1.

The Owls added a solo run in the eighth inning on a Tony Jusino two-out, RBI double.

Young ran into some trouble in the ninth inning, giving up five hits and four runs with the big blow coming off the bats of Ryan Ferguson and Jusino. Ferguson doubled to right center to score one run, and Jusino's two-out triple scored two more. Young settled down, however, and got Taylor Juran to strike out swinging to end the game.

The Leopards continue their homestand this weekend when they welcome league opponent Holy Cross to Kamine Stadium for doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch for both days is 12 p.m.

Postgame Notes:
- Lafayette has now had three separate four-game win streaks this season. The Leopards did not have a single four-game win streak last season and the last time Lafayette had multiple win streaks of at least four games was in 2006.
- Ryan Hanna picked up his fourth win of the season, tying him for the team lead in wins.
- The 13 runs were tied for the second most scored by the Leopards this season.