March 14, 2012
Box Score
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Lafayette baseball team turned in another strong pitching performance on Wednesday evening against North Dakota State, but a four-run second inning aided by two infield hits and three Leopards' errors lifted the Bison to a 4-0 victory.
With the loss, Lafayette falls to 4-8-1, while North Dakota State improves to 10-5. The game was played at Chain of Lakes Park - the formerly spring training facility for the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians - in Winter Haven, Fla.
Right-hander Derek Gussaroff scattered four singles and three walks against the ninth-best hitting team in the nation. Gussaroff (2-2) allowed just two earned runs while striking out four batters in five innings to take the hard-luck loss. Southpaw Sean McGrath struck out four in two innings of relief and right-hander Jeff Snell fired a perfect frame to complete the pitching effort. Lafayette surrendered only one extra-base hit - a bloop double that was lost in the lights - which McGrath erased by striking out the side.
Bryant Larson allowed three singles in a seven-inning, 124-pitch outing for North Dakota State. Larson (1-1) struck out eight batters and walked two in the shutout performance. Simon Anderson tossed two perfect innings to close out the game for the Bison.
Bobby Fargnoli, Brad Hopek and James McCool had the Leopards' three base-hits in the contest.
All of the scoring came in the bottom of the second inning. Aided by a pair of infield hits and three Lafayette errors, the Bison pushed four runs across - two of which were unearned - to build a 4-0 cushion. Nick Altavilla had North Dakota State's two RBI for the game.
While Lafayette's pitching held the margin for the remainder of the game, the Leopards offense managed just one hit the rest of the way with just three total baserunners over the final seven frames.
The Leopards will travel to Tampa tomorrow in preparation for a weekend series at South Florida. The three-game set with the Bulls begins on Friday at 7 p.m.
