March 30, 2011
Box Score
NEWARK, N.J. - After seeing seven NJIT pitchers and more than three-and-a-half hours of action on Wednesday afternoon, the Lafayette baseball team outlasted the host Highlanders in 13 innings by a score of 3-1. Kevin McCarville had the game-winning RBI double for the Leopards, and freshman Connor Ortolf logged his first collegiate victory.
With the win, the Leopards improve to 6-14. NJIT falls to 2-13. Lafayette last played a 13-inning game against Navy on March 30, 2008 - a 6-5 win for the Midshipmen.
Senior left-hander Corey Shea made the start and worked the first two innings. He allowed just one walk and no hits, striking out three batters. Ethan Perro, Kevin Casey, Jack Rems and Sean McGrath bridged the gap to Ortolf (1-1) who pitched four hitless innings of relief to earn the win. He struck out five Highlanders and issued two walks.
Offensively, senior Rob Froio had three of the Leopards' nine hits out of the leadoff spot, while Kelleher had a pair of base-knocks. McCarville's game-winner was the only extra-base hit for Lafayette on the day. Senior Matt Fenster had an RBI single in the third inning and freshman Andrew Santomauro tacked on an insurance run in the 13th inning with a sacrifice fly. Froio and Santomauro both registered stolen bases in the contest, and juniors Brian Davila and Bobby Fargnoli each dropped successful sacrifice bunts. Additionally, Fargnoli's chute from left field cut down a potential run in the fourth inning.
The Leopards struck first in the top of the third inning. Santomauro led off with a single through the left side and stole second to move himself into scoring position. After advancing to third on a fly out, Fenster's single to right field brought him home and gave Lafayette a 1-0 lead.
NJIT tied the score in the top of the fifth on a single by Matt Tomczyk, the team traded zeroes all the way to the 13th inning. In total, the squads stranded 25 baserunners as six Lafayette and seven NJIT pitchers allowed just 16 hits combined.
The Leopards' 13th-inning rally was started by Kelleher, who singled to lead-off the frame. Fargnoli then dropped down a sacrifice bunt and reached safely when NJIT unsuccessfully tried to cut down the lead runner. Two batters later, McCarville doubled to the gap in left-centerfield to score Fenster with the go-ahead run. Santomauro followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that ran the score to 3-1.
Head Coach Joe Kinney stuck with Ortolf in the bottom of the inning, and the freshman worked around a one-out walk to complete his first career win.
Tomczyk (0-1) took the loss for NJIT. After playing the first eight frames at shortstop, the right-hander allowed four hits and two earned runs over five innings. He struck out two batters and walked one.
Patriot League play begins this weekend as the Leopards travel to Lewisburg, Pa. for noon doubleheaders at Bucknell on Saturday and Sunday. Opening Day at Kamine Stadium is slated for Wednesday, April 6 with a 3:30 p.m. contest against Monmouth.
