March 9, 2014

4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Lafayette 0 0 0 4 0 2 5 11 13 1 FDU 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 7 1 Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) 11

TEANECK, N.J. - Back-to-back doubles by Andrew Santomauro and Parker Hills broke a 4-4 tie in the sixth inning and gave Lafayette the lead for good as it scored 11 unanswered runs to secure a 11-4 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in game one of Sunday's doubleheader at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.

Tyler Hudson (3-for-5, 3 RBI), Santomauro (2-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 runs), Hills (2-for-5) and Tim Lazor (2-for-5) each posted multi-hit games to lead Lafayette, which registered double-digit hits for the second straight game.

Looking at a 4-0 deficit after three complete frames in which Lafayette's starting pitcher Mitch Leeds was chased from the game after 2.2 innings of work, Lafayette (4-4) tied the game with four unearned runs against FDU starter Brendan Butler. Hills was hit by a pitch to start the inning, before Jackson Kramer singled two batters later. A strikeout of Alex Nickles gave FDU two outs with two men on, but Butler made a throwing error when Nick Murray put a ball back to him, allowing Lazor to score. Lazor reached on a fielder's choice.

The Leopards took advantage of the miscue and Brett Thompson's walk loaded the bases. A base hit back through the box off the bat of Andrew Landolfi plated two more runs, before Hudson tied the score with a single to right-center field.

Cory Spera earned the win in relief of Leeds and threw 2.1 innings without giving up a hit to hold the Knights (3-5) scoreless. Spera fanned two of the eight batters he faced, and fired a shutdown fourth immediately after Lafayette tied the game.

FDU gave the ball to Anthony Calise in the sixth inning, who had two outs with Thompson on third base after he was hit to begin the frame. Calise couldn't record another out as Santomauro and Hills each doubled to left.

Leading 6-4, Ari Kaufman came on for Lafayette and twirled a perfect sixth inning before the offense blew the game open with five runs in the top of the seventh inning. Kaufman earned his first save of the season and gave up one hit in 2.0 innings out of the pen.

All of Lafayette's runs in the final inning came with two outs after the Leopards quickly loaded the bases with two hit by pitches and a bunt single by Michael Coniglio. Hudson laced a single to right field to bring home the first two runs, prior to Santomauro's two-run knock and Lazor's RBI double to complete the scoring.

The game two victory seals at least a series win for the Leopards for the second consecutive weekend.