April 16, 2014

7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Lafayette 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 2 Rutgers 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 2 x 7 9 1 Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) 1

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Lafayette baseball team came out on the losing end of a 7-1 decision to Rutgers in a non-conference game on Wednesday afternoon at Bainton Field.

Rutgers took advantage of unearned runs in the first and fourth innings, before breaking the one-run game open with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Scarlet Knights' pitching staff combined to limit Lafayette to four hits, with starter Ryan Fleming giving up one run on two hits, while striking out six and walking two. Charlie Lasky tossed four scoreless frames in relief of Fleming and allowed two hits.

On the other side, Lafayette used six different pitchers in its scheduled staff day, with freshman Trevor Houck and sophomore Ari Kaufman each giving up an unearned run over two innings of action. Rutgers held a 2-1 edge after four offensive trips to the plate.

Andrew Landolfi picked up Lafayette's lone RBI with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning, which knotted the score at 1-1. Scoring from third on the ball hit to left center was Alex Woinski, who took first base on wild pitch to start the inning. Tim Lazor followed with a single to extend his hitting streak to six games, before a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position.

Ahead 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Rutgers scored three runs against Lafayette reliever Rob Ewald. R.J. Devish was hit by a pitch to lead off the fifth, before Mike Carter tripled to left center to extend the RU lead to 3-1. A sacrifice fly and a walk to Brian O'Grady brought Ryan Callanan into the contest with a man on first and the Leopards' down 4-1. A stolen base by O'Grady followed by a groundout brought Joe D'Annunzio to the dish with two outs. He singled through the middle and Rutgers never looked back from its 5-1 cushion.

Callanan pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings and gave up two hits, before handing the ball to Connor McMahon in the seventh. The righty fanned two, walked one and allowed one hit without surrendering a run.

The Scarlet Knights added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning on base hits by Carter and Nick Favatella against Alex Farina. With the win, Rutgers improved to 15-18 on the year, while Lafayette dropped to 10-19.

Lafayette returns to the diamond at Kamine Stadium on Saturday when Patriot League foe Bucknell comes to town for a four-game series. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon.