Box Score
March 14, 2015
| | Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | | Reeves - W (3-0) | 7.0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | | Leeds - L (1-1) | 4.2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | | Hunter - S (7) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| | | Batting | AB | R
| H | RBI | 2B | HR | | Lazor | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | | Hudson | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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CHARLESTON, S.C. - Despite out-hitting their opponents by a 10-6 margin, the visiting Lafayette Leopards dropped a 7-4 decision to The Citadel in non-conference baseball action Saturday at Riley Park.
Lafayette (1-5) jumped out to an early lead and held the advantage at the halfway point, but the Bulldogs (9-7) strung together four hits and three free passes in a decisive five-run fifth to put the game out of reach.
Lafayette wasted no time by scoring in the top of the first. After junior third baseman Tyler Hudson singled, he moved to second on a balk by Bulldog starter James Reeves and scampered to third on a base knock by senior first baseman Toby Schwartz. Senior catcher Parker Hills then plated Hudson with a sacrifice fly to left field.
The Citadel replied in the third with an unearned run to tie the score. Third baseman William Kinney drew a walk before moving to second on a passed ball and to third on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Philip Watcher. An RBI groundout by catcher Ryan Kilgallen allowed Kinney to touch home.
The Leopards took advantage of three hits and two Bulldog errors in the fourth to reclaim the lead 3-1. After Hills singled to lead off, sophomore left fielder Alex Woinski sacrificed him to second and senior designated hitter Tim Lazor singled him home. Two consecutive fielding miscues by The Citadel - the first on a grounder to second base by junior right fielder Andrew Landolfi and the next on a single to center field by junior second baseman Jackson Kramer - allowed Lazor to score.
Unfortunately for Lafayette, The Citadel offense woke up in the fifth to take a lead they would never relinquish. Watcher and center fielder Jason Smith drew a pair of walks before shortstop Johnathan Stokes delivered a single that brought home Watcher and moved Smith to third. Junior Ari Kaufman relieved Lafayette starting pitcher Mitch Leeds at that point, but hit left fielder Austin Mapes with a pitch to load the bases. Connor Walsh promptly singled to plate Watcher and Smith before a Stephen Windham double brought Mapes home to make it 6-3 in The Citadel's favor.
The teams traded runs in the eighth - with Lazor scoring on a wild pitch for Lafayette and Shy Phillips coming in on a fielding error by Landolfi for The Citadel - the set the final score.
Reeves moved his record to 3-0 for The Citadel after striking out eight Leopards over seven innings, while closer Skylar Hunter earned his seventh save. No Bulldog had more than one hit on offense, though Walsh and Windham each drove in a pair of runs.
For Lafayette, Leeds was tagged with his first loss of the season after allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and five walks over 4.2 innings. Senior Alex Farina was effective in relief, striking out four Bulldogs on one hit over three frames.
The Leopard offense was paced by Lazor, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Hudson, who went 2-for-5 with a run.
The Leopards and Bulldogs will complete the series on Sunday, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
