April 29, 2009
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Leopards used an eight-run eighth inning to pull off a 10-6 come-from-behind win at Temple on Wednesday afternoon. The victory snapped a brief three-game slide as Lafayette used 14 hits - including three from senior Daniel Bierce - to down the Owls in Philadelphia.
Bierce also added three RBI, two of which came on a two-run homer in the five-run eighth inning. Alex Bechta had two hits and scored three runs from the leadoff spot. Ryan Hanna picked up his team-leading fifth victory in relief as three relievers combined to give up just two runs in the final 4.2 innings of the game.
The Leopards (21-23) broke a scoreless tie with a run in the fourth inning. Justin Shepherd knocked a one-out double down the left field line. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on a fielding error by Temple's second baseman.
The Owls (16-24) took that lead away with four runs in the fifth inning, all charged to starter John Gentile. Mark Ortega led off with a walk that was followed by a Lenny DelGrippo single. A fielder's choice sent DelGrippo to second and he came around to score on Carmen Del Mastro's single through the right side. Jamie Abercrombie followed with another RBI single for a 2-1 Temple lead. A throwing error by catcher Ian McCutcheon led to the third run and a wild pitch allowed Abercrombie to score the inning's fourth run.
Matt Fenster cut it to a two-run lead with a sac fly in the sixth. The Leopards made it a one-run lead (4-3) the next inning on Bierce's RBI single through the left side that scored Bechta, who had led off the inning with a walk.
That set Lafayette up for its five-run eighth inning. The Leopards had five hits, including A.J. Pisarri's go-ahead, two-RBI double to right center that gave the team its first lead since the opening inning, 5-4. With two runners still on base, Bierce came to bat and belted a home run to left field, scoring two more runners and upping Lafayette's lead to 7-4. Jeff Butler, who had drawn a one-out walk, scored the inning's final run on a throwing error by Temple's catcher.
Lafayette tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth on a fielder's choice and another Temple fielding error.
The Owls put two runs of their own on the board in the ninth off freshman Ian Dickson, but the rookie got Kyle Obal to ground out to end the game.
The Leopards are back in action this weekend when they travel to Le Moyne for a three-game series beginning on Saturday.
Postgame Notes:
- Justin Shepherd went 2-for-6 to extend his hitting streak to 15 games, the longest streak by a Lafayette batter this season.
- Bierce's homer was his career-high fifth of the season. He had never hit more than three in a single season.
