March 23, 2012
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - John Gentile delivered his best outing of the season for the Lafayette baseball team on Friday afternoon, but the right-hander's seven-inning gem was topped by Penn's Vince Voiro, who tossed a four-hit shutout to lead to visiting Quakers to a 2-0 victory.
With the loss in the series opener, Lafayette falls to 5-12-1. The Quakers move to 6-8.
Gentile (0-5) allowed two earned runs on six hits in seven innings of work. The Lafayette co-captain, who ceded just two hits after the second inning, struck out four batters and walked one. Sean McGrath pitched the final two frames, striking out three Quakers in a hitless outing.
Voiro (3-1) went the distance for Penn, scattering five hits. The right-hander struck out 10 batters and did not issue a walk.
Bobby Fargnoli went 2-for-4 to lead the Lafayette offense. Andrew Ruck hit his team-high eighth double of the spring, while Scott Kelleher and Brian Davila each singled to round out the Leopards' five hits.
Both of Penn's runs came early in the contest. A Spencer Branigan first-inning double plated Brandon Englehardt - who had led off the game with a two-bagger - and a Kyle Toomey tripled home James Mraz in the second stanza to account for the Quakers' two tallies.
The Leopards' biggest threat against Voiro came in the seventh inning. Davila led off with a bunt single, and Ruck laced a double down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. A sharply-hit groundball to third base by Fargnoli resulted in Davila being put-out, but left the potential tying runs aboard with just one out. Kelleher followed with a single to load the bases, but Voiro battled back with consecutive strikeouts to retire the side.
The Quakers outhit the Leopards, 6-5. Each squad committed one error and stranded five baserunners. Lafayette turned the game's only double play, and Mraz had the lone stolen base.
The series shifts to Philadelphia tomorrow for a doubleheader to wrap-up the three-game set beginning at 10:30 a.m. Please note that Sunday's scheduled twin bill at Kamine Stadium has been cancelled due to the threat of inclement weather.
