March 16, 2011
Box Score
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Senior second baseman Alex Bechta and sophomore first baseman Scott Kelleher each drove in two runs, but the Lafayette baseball team fell short in the series opener at Cal State Bakersfield, 12-6. Senior third baseman Matt Fenster went 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Leopards.
Lafayette drops to 4-8 on the season, while the Roadrunners, who were ranked No. 30 last week by Collegiate Baseball, improves to 13-5.
Senior catcher A.J. Miller had a 2-for-4 day at the plate that included a solo home run - his fourth roundtripper of the season. Senior centerfielder Rob Froio and junior left fielder Bobby Fargnoli also had two hits apiece for the Leopards.
Getting the start on the hill was junior left-hander Michael Massa, who surrendered three earned runs on six hits in four innings of work. Freshman righty Ben Meer (0-1) took the loss out of the bullpen, allowing two earned runs in one inning of action. Chris Boyce, Connor Ortolf and Derek Gussaroff closed out the game for Lafayette.
The Leopards started the scoring in the top of the third inning, with junior shortstop Brian Davila reaching via error with one out to set the table. Back-to-back singles by Froio and Bechta then loaded the bases, and a Kelleher base-hit followed to give Lafayette a 2-0 lead. Fenster then singled with two out to plate another run for the Maroon and White.
After Bakersfield took two runs back in the bottom of the frame, a two-run double by Bechta in the fourth extended the Leopards' lead back to three runs at 5-2.
Once again, the Roadrunners answered in their half of the inning. Bakersfield plated three in the frame to knot the score then added two runs without the benefit of a base-hit in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-5 advantage.
Miller led off the top of the seventh inning with a solo shot to right centerfield, but the Leopards would get no closer as Bakersfield pulled away for a 12-6 victory.
Spenser Messmore (2-0) allowed just one run on six hits in 3.1 innings of relief work to get the victory. Martin Medina tossed a pair of hitless frames to earn his fourth save of the season.
The Leopards and Roadrunners will meet again tomorrow for the second outing of the four-game series. Action from Hardt Field in Bakersfield is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
