March 14, 2012
Utah Valley Box Score
Youngstown State Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Lafayette continued its week-long swing at the Rebel Spring Games, dropping a pair of decisions to Utah Valley and Youngstown State on Wednesday. Utah Valley pushed across a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to hang on for a 4-3 decision. The Youngstown State game was never in doubt as the Penguins opened with seven runs in the first in a 9-4 final.
Lafayette drew first blood vs. Utah Valley in a 9 a.m. contest. Gwen Turner led off with a single and Jordan Parsons' sacrifice bunt moved Turner into scoring position. That set the stage for Lauren Murphywho ripped a double to score Turner.
The offense added to its slim margin with a run in the third inning. With runners on the corners, Turner scored from third while the Utah Valley defense made a play on Murphy trying to steal second. Lafayette led 2-0.
In the bottom of the frame, Utah Valley (12-5-1) erased Lafayette's advantage with a two-run single from the bat of Amanda Perez. The Leopards committed two errors in the inning, leading to the unearned runs.
The fifth inning was the decisive one, and it looked good for Lafayette as the Leopards were able to score a run on Stacey Dorn'stwo-out RBI-single to lead 3-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Perez struck again, this time with a run-scoring double and later scoring on Deianna Russell's base hit.
Lafayette managed just one baserunner in the final two innings in the 4-3 final. Tiffany Miller collected the win for Utah Valley, giving up three runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks. Melissa Robinson(0-5) was credited with the loss, surrendering four runs (two earned) on five hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout.
Lafayette's 11 a.m. contest saw Youngstown State (9-2) jump out to a 7-0 lead in the top of the first and never looked back. YSU had six hits in the inning and benefited from two Leopard errors. With three runs across and just one out in the inning, starter Emily Noel was lifted in favor of Alex Campanarowho pitched the final 6.2 innings.
The Leopards made some noise with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Parsons (fielder's choice) and Dorn (single) knocked in a run apiece as Youngstown State led 7-3.
Lafayette (1-7) added a run with one out in the fourth. Murphy laced a single down the rightfield line to score Turner who had led off the inning with a walk.
The Maroon & White trailed 7-4 going into the fifth, but Kristen Philen stomped out any flames of a Leopard comeback when she hit a two-run homer to left center.
Noel (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits in a third of an inning. Campanaro struck out three and gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits in 6.2 innings. Casey Crozier, who came on in the fourth and struck out three of the four batters she faced in that inning, collected the victory. She allowed two hits in four innings while fanning eight.
Lafayette will have Thursday off from game action before playing Cleveland State and Wagner on Friday.
