Box Score

EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette baseball team won its third game out of its last four on Wednesday afternoon, earning a 7-6 victory over Villanova in the Liberty Bell Classic

Lafayette (11-13, 2-1 PL) was able to put runs on the board early, but Villanova (4-14, 0-0 Big East) responded through JP Radvany who knocked in two homers to keep the Wildcats in the game. Senior co-captain Luke Robinson played hero in the bottom of the ninth, scoring from second on a botched pick-off attempt by Villanova to give the Leopards their second straight victory via a walk-off.

Kyle Johnson (2-0) was credited with the win for the Leopards while Tyler Arella (1-1) took the loss for the Wildcats. Sophomore Mark Anderson got the start on the mound for the Maroon and White and was efficient through five innings, striking out five batters while only allowing three hits and two runs.

"You never know what's going to happen when you come to the baseball park," head coach Joe Kinney said. "Our guys had the extra comfort level of being at home today and we were glad to pick up the win at home and keep our momentum going."

The Leopards got on scratched two across in the first inning to open the scoring. Steven Cohen and Robinson got on base with back-to back singles and were both moved into scoring position by a grounder from John Marti. Spencer Rouse sent a sacrifice fly into leftfield that plated Cohen while Patrick Nelson brought home Robinson with an RBI single up the middle.

The Leopards 2-0 lead didn't last long however as Radvany knotted the score at 2-2 in the top of the second, sending a shot over the left field wall. The Maroon and White were able to get the runs back in the bottom half of the frame to make it a 4-2 game.

Trey Durrah led off with a double and was brought home by senior co-captain AJ Kloehn who followed with a double of his own for the Leopards first run of the inning. Quentin Bubb was able to move Kloehn into scoring position and Cohen kept up his play at the plate, hitting a sharp grounder that plated Kloehn.

Anderson set the Wildcats down in order in the third and the fourth, helping the Maroon and White maintain their two-run lead. The Leopards took advantage of the stellar pitching and went up 6-2 with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth inning. Spencer Rouse earned a base on balls and moved to second after Nelson reached on an error from Villanova's shortstop. Mark Glover loaded the bases with an infield single and Durrah did the damage, smacking a single into right field to give the Leopards a four-run lead.

Villanova responded with three runs in the top of the sixth inning and tied the game in the eighth as Lafayette was unable to generate offense until the ninth inning. Robinson worked a walk to lead-off the inning and John Marti reached base on a dropped fly-ball to give the Leopards one runner in scoring position. Robinson capitalized as Villanova's pick-off attempt snuck under its second baseman's glove. As the St. Louis, Mo. native rounded third the Wildcats' centerfielder botched the recovery effort which allowed Robinson to glide home with ease and seal the 7-6 victory.

Durrah and Robinson both had excellent days at the plate as they both finished 2-for-4. Robinson scored two runs while Durrah finished with two RBI and one run scored.

The Leopards hit the road for their next series this Saturday as they return to Patriot League play with a three-game set against Navy. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m.