April 25, 2011
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
EASTON, Pa. - On a day that quite literally picked up where yesterday left off, the Lafayette baseball team was unable to capitalize on Sunday's success en route to dropping a pivotal Patriot League series to Army. The Black Knights came out on top in the resumed game from Sunday then swept the regularly-scheduled doubleheader to take the series, three games to one.
The Leopards, who won game one yesterday by a score of 9-7, now stand at an 8-8 and in third place in Patriot League play with a 14-23 mark overall. Army shares first place with Navy at 10-6 in league action with an 18-20 record on the season.
The day started with the 10th inning of yesterday's nightcap, which was suspended due to lightning with the score tied at 6-6 thanks to a three-run rally by Lafayette in the bottom of the eighth frame.
Sophomore right-hander Kevin Casey moved from second base to the mound for the Leopards, though he saddled with the hard-luck loss at Army scratched two runs across in the 12th inning for an 8-6 victory. Just one of those runs was earned as Casey scattered four hits over three innings of work.
Senior centerfielder Rob Froio went 5-for-7 with three RBI out of the leadoff spot in the contest. Casey and senior first baseman Matt Fenster had two hits apiece in the marathon game which took four hours and 13 minutes of game time - and 21 hours and 27 minutes of "real time" - to complete.
Ken Jackson worked the 10th and 11th innings to earn the win for Army. Jackson (5-1), who also logged his first career at-bat in the game, allowed three hits in a pair of scoreless frames. Ben Koenigsfeld started the game at left fielder moved to the mound and tallied a blown save yesterday before returning to the outfield. He atoned for his shaky eighth inning yesterday by taking the hill once again and recording the last three outs to notch his fifth save of the season.
Army parlayed the momentum of the extra-inning win into a strong performance in the scheduled doubleheader. The Leopards were outhit 29-9 in the twinbill and outscored 21-2. Froio and junior shortstop Brian Davila each had two hits, while Davila and Bechta earned the Lafayette RBI.
Junior right-hander John Gentile recovered from a tough start in the seven-inning game to keep the Leopards within striking distance through five innings. The Lafayette offense, however, went 4.2 innings without a hit and mustered just two singles off of Army starter Chris Rowley. The Black Knights tacked on six runs in the sixth inning to win by a comfortable 9-0 tally.
Gentile (1-6) allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits over the first five innings for Lafayette. He struck out three batters, walked two, hit four and uncorked a wild pitch. Freshmen Ben Meer and Robert Tatum each fired hitless innings of relief.
Rowley (3-3) allowed just two hits in a seven-inning complete game shutout. The right-hander needed just 70 pitches to earn the win.
The series finale was also within reach of much of the game, as the Leopards posted single runs in the third and fifth frames to hang tough down 5-2. Lafayette would get no closer, however, as the Black Knights again added late insurance tallies to claim a 12-2 decision.
Freshman Connor Ortolf (2-3) made the start and took the loss. The southpaw allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits in five innings. He struck out two batters and did not issue a walk.
Gunnar Carroll put out a fire in the fifth inning and went the rest of the way to earn the win for Army. Carroll (2-1) allowed just one hit in 4.2 frames, recording one strikeout and one walk.
The Leopards will look to get back on track on Wednesday against Long Island. First pitch from Kamine Stadium is slated for 3:30 p.m. League play concludes this weekend at Navy. No team has clinched a tournament berth with four games to go, and every team except for Holy Cross remains in contention for a top-two seed.
