April 2, 2011
Box Score
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Lafayette baseball team opened Patriot League play with a doubleheader at Bucknell on Saturday afternoon. The Leopards took game one from the Bison, 11-5, and fell 11-2 in the nightcap.
With the split, Lafayette moves to 7-15, while Bucknell now stands at 12-14. Both teams wrap up day one of league action at 1-1.
Senior catcher A.J. Miller had four hits in the twinbill, including his team-best sixth home run of the season. The Lafayette co-captain, who recently landed on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, also drove in three runs. Senior Rob Froio and Junior Brian Davila each had three hits. Davila also picked up two RBI and scored four runs. Seniors Matt Fenster and Alex Bechta also drove in two runs apiece, while sophomore Kevin Casey hit his first home run of the season and scored three times in the double-dip.
Senior right-hander Zach Fritz (2-2) scattered five hits and five earned runs over the first five innings of game one to earn the win. He struck out six batters and walked two. Junior southpaw Sean McGrath earned his first save after allowed just one hit in two scoreless innings of relief. He struck out three batters and did not issue a walk.
Junior right-hander Ethan Perro (1-2) took the loss in the nightcap. He allowed eight hits and four earned runs in 3.1 frames on the hill. Perro tallied two strikeouts and two walks.
In game one - slated for seven innings - the Leopards got on the board in the top of the first inning. Davila and Bechta drew back-to-back walks with one out, and Miller drove a single up the middle to bring home the game's first run. Lafayette extended its cushion with a trio of tallies in the second frame. Casey's one-out roundtripper accounted for the first run, while Bechta's fielder choice groundout and Fenster's sacrifice fly spotted the visitors a 4-0 advantage.
The Leopards struck again in the top of the third inning courtesy of a two-out, two-run triple by Bechta. An RBI double from Fenster in the fourth extended the lead to 7-0 before the Bison would muster a hit off of Fritz.
As the Lafayette bats cooled, the Bison began to climb back by way of the long ball. A two-run home run from Scott Reed in the fourth inning got Bucknell on the board and a two-run shot by Doug Shribman - the Patriot League's career home run leader - highlighted a three-run fifth inning as the Bison closed within two runs at 7-5.
Bucknell appeared poised to draw even in the bottom of the sixth inning, with the tying runs in scoring position and one out. But McGrath, who had come on in relief to start the frame, induced a strike out and a harmless infield fly to quell the three with Lafayette still holding a 7-5 lead.
A two-out rally in the top of the seventh and final inning gave the Leopards some much-needed breathing room. A pair of walks and a Froio single loaded the bases with two down, and Bechta drew another walk to push a run home. After a wild pitch scored Froio and a walk to Miller reloaded the bases, Sophomore Brad Hopek cashed in on the opportunity with a two-run single to give Lafayette a more comfortable 11-5 edge.
McGrath racked up a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless bottom of the inning to wrap-up the 11-5 win.
Lafayette got off to a quick start once again in game two, courtesy of a two-run home run by Miller in the top of the first inning. The Leopards, however, would not score again as Bucknell posted crooked numbers in four straight innings en route to a 9-2 win.
The Leopards and Bison will conclude their four-game series without another doubleheader tomorrow beginning at noon. Opening Day at Kamine Stadium is slated for Wednesday, April 6 with a 3:30 p.m. contest against Monmouth.
