April 7, 2010
Box Score
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - In what marked the Leopards' seventh one-run game of the season, Lafayette used a ninth-inning rally to capture a 6-5 win over Monmouth on Wednesday afternoon.
The Leopards (6-17) out-hit the Hawks by a 15-8 margin, led by Matt Fenster's five-hit effort. Fenster also scored two runs while Brad Weiss had two hits and drove in three runs, including the game-tying run.
Lafayette starter Michael Massa went three innings and gave up four runs on six hits. The Leopards used three relievers to close out the game and they combined to surrender just one hit and did not allow a run. Jack Rems and Jeff Snell were particularly effective. Rems tossed three complete innings while Snell picked up his team-leading save of the season.
Massa gave up a run on two hits in the bottom of the second and the Hawks followed that with a three-run third inning. Jamie Rosenkranz plated the first run with a one-out double to center and Danny Avella came through with the biggest hit of the inning, a two-run shot to right field for the 4-0 Monmouth lead.
The Leopards countered with a three-run inning of their own to make it a one-run game. Fenster knocked a one-out double to right center and scored on Alex Bechta's single through the right side.
Justin Shepherd followed with Lafayette's third-straight hit to put runners on the corners, still with only one out. Weiss connected for his first hit of the game that allowed Bechta to score. A walk to Brian Davila loaded the bases and a second straight walk, this time to Rob Froio, marked the inning's third run.
Monmouth (7-13) got a run back in the bottom half of the fourth on Mike Casale's two-out RBI single, making it a 5-3 Hawks lead.
The Leopards managed to keep it a one-run game by putting another run on the board in the fifth. Matt Hall led off with a double and came around to score on Weiss's sac fly.
It remained 5-4 as the Leopards came to bat in the top of the ninth for their final try to tie or take the lead. Fenster and pinch hitter Scott Kelleher put together back-to-back hits to lead off the inning and Weiss had a clutch at-bat, providing the game-tying RBI single to right center.
Lafayette took its first lead of the afternoon on A.J. Miller's sac fly that scored pinch runner Thomas Dunleavy.
Snell emphatically shut the door on Monmouth in the ninth by striking out the side to secure the 6-5 Leopard win.
Lafayette returns to Patriot League play this weekend when the team travels to archrival Lehigh for doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch for both games is slated for noon.
