Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Lafayette baseball team bashed three homeruns in a 9-1 rout of St. Joseph's on Wednesday afternoon. With the win the Leopards move on to the finals of the Liberty Bell Classic, which will be played at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Lafayette will play the winner of Lehigh vs. Delaware. The contest is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, with first pitch set for 7 p.m.

The Leopards were able to take an early lead courtesy of a two-run homerun from John Marti in the first inning and Lafayette (12-16, 2-4 PL) never looked back from there, adding runs in the third and fourth innings before breaking the game open with a four-run sixth inning to put St. Joseph's (11-13, 2-4 A10) away for good. Sophomore Mark Anderson (1-1) earned the win on the mound for the Leopards, striking out seven across six innings of work while allowing one earned run.

Marti jumpstarted Lafayette's offense with one out in the first inning. Luke Robinson singled through the left side to give the Maroon and White a baserunner and Marti did the rest, sending a shot over the wall in right centerfield to put the Leopards up 2-0.

Mark Glover made it 3-0 for the Maroon and White in the third inning with a leadoff homer to right field. St. Joe's manufactured a run in the bottom half of the frame to make it 3-1, but the Leopards quelled the threat before adding two more runs in the fourth inning. Colin Hartey and Ethan Stern did the damage for the Leopards, as Hartey smoked a double down the first base line that plated Trey Durrah, while Stern scored Hartey with a sharply hit single to St. Joseph's shortstop.

With a 5-1 lead, the Maroon and White put the game out of the reach in the sixth inning, putting four runs on the board to give the contest its final score of 9-1. Trey Durrah led off with a single before swiping second to put himself in scoring position. With two outs, Stern was able to reach on a throwing error as the Leopards' inning was kept alive. After Stern stole second, Glover came through for the Maroon and White once again, sending a two-run double into right field. Robinson polished off the scoring with a homerun to right field.

Brian Lannino entered the game on the mound in the seventh and struck out four batters across two innings before turning the ball over to David Giusti who shut the Hawks down in the ninth inning to preserve the 9-1 victory.

The Maroon and White return to Patriot League play this weekend when the travel to Lewisburg for a three-game set against Bucknell. The series gets started with a doubleheader this Saturday, with game one scheduled for a 12 p.m. start. The Leopards and Bison close out the series with a Sunday matinee, with first pitch at 1 p.m.