March 9, 2014

2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Lafayette 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 6 7 0 FDU 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 6 1 Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) | Game 1 Recap 6

TEANECK, N.J. - The Lafayette baseball team rode a six-run fourth inning to a 6-2 victory and a series sweep over Fairleigh Dickinson in game two of Sunday's doubleheader at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex. The win was Lafayette's fourth straight and improved its record to 5-4 on the season.

Freshman David Bednar made his first career start on the hill for the Leopards and was exceptional in his debut, hurling 5.0 shutout innings, while conceding one hit. The righty struck out five and walked one to earn the win.

The score remained tied through three full innings after Bednar and Fairleigh Dickinson (3-6) starter John Chalupa went toe-to-toe. Joel Roman's single to left with two away in the last of the third was the lone base hit for either side going into the fourth inning.

Third baseman Tyler Hudson belted a solo shot over the right field fence to put the Leopards on the board at the start of the fourth inning and also sparked a six-run outburst for the visitors. Chalupa issued a walk to Andrew Santomauro before Parker Hills served a single into right. With a pair aboard, Tim Lazor dropped a single into left center to score Santomauro as Hills motored around to third base and Lazor advanced to second on the throw. Designated hitter Jackson Kramer stepped to the plate and delivered Lafayette's fourth consecutive hit and sent Chalupa to the showers with the Leopards up 3-0.

With Nick Cuono on in relief and men on the corners with nobody out, Alex Nickles' sacrifice bunt allowed Lazor to waltz home and push the advantage to 4-0. A free trip to first by Nick Murray and Brett Thomson's single to center packed the sacks for Andrew Landolfi with one gone. Landolfi's fielder's choice extended Lafayette's lead to 5-0 prior to a throwing error on his attempted steal of second base sent Murray home.

Bednar and Connor McMahon combined to hold the lead at 6-0 heading into the seventh and final inning. The Leopards went quietly in the top half, before FDU scored twice against Alex Farina. Farina completed the sweep by leaving the bases loaded to end the game.

Lafayette returns to the diamond on Friday, March 14 when the team takes on VCU in Richmond, Va. First pitch against the Rams is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Game Notes:

Hudson's home run was the first of his career.

Hills extended his hitting streak to six games and has reached base in eight straight contests. Santomauro has also reached safely in the last eight games.

Lafayette's four-game winning streak is the longest since the team won four straight in April of 2012.