April 27, 2011
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - A three-run, walk-off home run from sophomore second baseman Kevin Casey capped a wild day at Kamine Stadium as the Lafayette baseball team scored seven unanswered runs to storm past visiting Long Island, 13-10. Senior designated hitter A.J. Miller drove in the tying run earlier in the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly.
With the come-from-behind triumph, the Leopards improve to 15-23 on the season. Long Island, which currently stands just one-half game out of first place in the Northeast Conference, falls to 22-15.
Casey was 3-for-5 with four RBI on the day, adding a bases-loaded walk to his three-run roundtripper. Miller went 1-for-3 with three runs batted in, moving into sixth place on the single-season list at Lafayette with 46 RBI on the season. Sophomore third baseman Scott Kelleher also drove in three runs in a 2-for-4 day, while senior right fielder Alex Bechta and sophomore first baseman Brad Hopek also had two hits.
Junior right-hander Jeff Snell (2-0) hurled a perfect ninth to earn the win. In a scheduled "staff game" for both teams, the Leopards bullpen came through with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to finish the game and facilitate the comeback. Sophomore right-handers Derek Gussaroff and Chris Boyce both fired scoreless innings and junior left-hander Jack Rems posted a pair of zeroes.
The visiting Blackbirds jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with three runs in each of the first two innings. Lafayette got on the board in the bottom of the second frame with an unearned run. A two-out single through the left side by junior catcher Kevin McCarville moved Kelleher to third, and the sophomore third baseman scored on the play when Long Island left fielder Peter Leonello overran the hard-hit groundball.
The Leopards struck again in the bottom of the third inning, started by a leadoff walk from senior first baseman Matt Fenster. Miller then drew a free pass two batters later, and Casey followed with a single to load the bases with one down. The next batter was Kelleher, who smacked a single to centerfield that scored a pair. Junior left fielder Bobby Fargnoli kept the runners moving with an RBI groundout to cut the margin to 6-4.
After freshman Robert Tatum tossed a scoreless fourth inning, the Leopards pulled even in the bottom of the stanza. Senior centerfielder Rob Froio worked a one-out walk to start the action and moved to third as Fenster reached on a fielding error by third baseman Derek Stupski. Bechta was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Miller drew his second walk of the game to push a run across. Casey followed with an RBI base-on-balls of his own as Lafayette knotted the score at 6-6 without the benefit of a hit in the inning.
The Blackbirds regained the lead with four runs in the top of the sixth inning and maintained its 10-6 advantage until the bottom of the eighth inning. Once again, a walk started the action as Bechta worked a one-out free pass. Miller followed with double to the corner in left field as Bechta came all the way around to score. Miller came home on a two-out triple by Kelleher, who later crossed the plate on a failed pickoff attempt to cut the lead to 10-9 entering the last inning.
After Snell set Long Island down in order, a one-out single by Froio off of Long Island closer Evan Zreff started the rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. Hopek then singled and Bechta walked to load the bases with one out. Miller followed with a shallow fly to right field. The throw to the catcher from right fielder Albert Faz was accurate, but Froio beat the ball to the plate to tie the score at 10-10. Needing just a single for the win, Casey left room for error with a long fly to centerfield. Both the centerfielder and left fielder tracked the ball to wall, but all that they could do was look up as Casey's blast cleared the fence for a game-winning, three-run jack.
In their comeback effort, the Leopards touched up Justin Topa, who is Long Island's leader in WHIP, batting average against and strikeouts, for three runs (two earned) on two hits and a walk in 0.2 innings. Zreff (3-1) takes the loss after surrendering four earned runs on three hits and a walk in one inning. Casey's game-winner was the first home run hit off of the Blackbirds' closer this season. Zreff began the week as the Northeast Conference leader with 11 saves.
Lafayette returns to the diamond this weekend at Navy for the final series of Patriot League play. All four Patriot League Tournament berths remain up-for-grabs as the Leopards and Midshipmen meet in a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.
