Box Score

March 13, 2015

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

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Playing for the first time in 12 days, the Lafayette baseball team hung around until the final at-bat but lost by a score of 3-1 to The Citadel on Friday afternoon at Riley Park.

Lafayette pitchers David Bednar and Ryan Callanan combined to limit the Bulldogs to half of their average scoring output of over six runs per contest, but The Citadel starting pitcher JP Sears was even better, striking out eight Leopards on just four hits and a walk over six frames.

The Citadel (8-7) started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Second baseman Phillip Watcher led off with a single before advancing to third on a double by designated hitter Bailey Rush. Three batters later, Watcher touched home on a fielder's choice groundout by shortstop Johnathan Stokes.

Lafayette (1-4) used the help of two wild pitches by Sears in the top of the fourth to tie the score at 1-1. Sophomore left fielder Alex Woinski led off with a single before moving to second on the first wild pitch. After a Toby Schwartz groundout advanced him to third, Woinski raced home on the second wild pitch.

The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth when first baseman Drew Ellis doubled home catcher Stephen Windham, who had walked.

The Citadel added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when centerfielder Jason Smith, who had singled to lead off the inning, came around to score on a throwing error by Lafayette second baseman Jackson Kramer.

The Leopards had a chance to tie it in the ninth when catcher Parker Hills came to the plate following a walk drawn by designated hitter Tim Lazor, but The Citadel closer Skylar Hunter induced a fielder's choice groundout to end the threat and pick up his sixth save.

Sears moved to 3-2 with the victory, while Bednar fell to 0-2 with the loss. He allowed two runs - both earned - on four hits and five walks in five innings, while striking out five. Callanan kept his season ERA at zero by tossing three frames and letting in just the unearned run in the seventh.

Schwartz tallied two of the Leopards' five hits, including his first double of the season.

The two teams will get right back at it on Saturday at 11 a.m. Game time was originally set for 2 p.m., but was moved up due to the threat of rain in the afternoon.