Box Score

LEXINGTON, Va. - Lafayette kicked off its 2016 campaign with an 8-2 defeat at VMI on Friday afternoon. The Leopards got on the board early, but the host Keydets had four of their six hits overall come with runners in scoring position in the opener of a three-game weekend series.

AJ Kloehn and Dan Leckie each finished with a pair of hits in their Lafayette debuts, while Michael Coniglio had two of the Leopards' three stolen bases batting from the leadoff position.

Lafayette had its first two runs of the season only three batters into today's contest. Coniglio started things off with a walk and immediately stole second base. He advanced to third on a Tyler Hudson double, and both of them crossed the plate on a subsequent single to left-center by Steven Cohen. The Leopards had the opportunity to build on that advantage, but an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded kept the score at 2-0.

The Keydets quickly responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first, and Collin Fleischer broke the game open with a three-run homer to right center with two outs in the second inning.

Lafayette starting pitcher David Bednar settled down after that long ball, retiring the final 10 batters that he faced in order. The Maroon and White, though, despite putting a runner into scoring position in five of the final eight frames, were never able to build on their first-inning output.

Bednar struck out seven in five innings of work, surrendering five hits and a pair of walks. He was relieved by Ari Kaufman, who allowed one hit and three free passes over the last three innings. That one hit, however, was a two-run shot by Matt Pita with one out in the eighth inning.

The Leopards chased Keydet starter Jared Silva one batter into the second inning, but were kept off the scoreboard by Matthew Eagle over the following six frames. VMI, which was playing at home for the first time this winter, improved its season record to 3-3 with the victory.

Lafayette looks to even up the series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. at Gray-Minor Stadium.

NOTES:

This was the first meeting between the two teams since the 2014 season, when VMI swept a three-game slate from Feb. 21-23. Lafayette won 2-of-3 in the series prior to that back in 2012.

Andrew Landolfi, making the start in left field, tallied the other stolen base for the Leopards, swiping second base during the second inning of play.