March 21, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Lafayette outlasted Penn in a pitchers' duel on Wednesday afternoon, as Dave Drechsel knocked in the game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning to hand Lafayette a 2-1 triumph in non-league baseball action at Meiklejohn Stadium.

With the game knotted at 1-1 in the top of the 10th inning, senior Kevin Leasure led off with a double to left field. Mike Raible's ground ball moved him to third base with one out. The next batter, Drechsel, pulled a ball through the left side to score Leasure and give the Leopards the 2-1 lead.

Neither team could get much offense going in the early and middle innings thank shutout efforts from both pitching staffs. The Lafayette staff combined to allow just four hits on the afternoon and none in the final four innings. Penn used eight pitchers on the day and gave up five hits, two of which came in the final inning.

Kevin Reese, the reigning Patriot League Pitcher of the Week, tossed the first three innings, allowing one hit while striking out two. Brian Cope surrendered one hit in two scoreless innings and fanned two. Rookie Tyler Chromey came on in the sixth and loaded the bases following a base hit and two walks. He escaped trouble when he got William Gordon to line out to end the inning.

Penn scored its only run of the game against Jason Morytko in the seventh. Lafayette committed two errors, the second of which allowed Steve Gable to score from second base.

The Penn lead was short-lived, as Lafayette got the run back in the top of the eighth. Drechsel was hit by a pitch to lead off and a wild pitch and a ground ball placed him at third base with one out. A second wild offering from Penn pitcher Doug Brown allowed Drechsel to score and tie the game.

Morytko retired the Quakers in order in the eighth and both teams failed to score a run in the ninth. When the game moved to extra innings, Leasure got into scoring position with the lead-off double before Drechsel brought him home for the 2-1 victory.

John Fugett (2-0), who threw the final two innings of the game did not allow a baserunner. He struck out two and did not give up a walk in his second win of the season.

Lafayette is scheduled to play Binghamton on Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Check back to www.GoLeopards.com for schedule updates.

NOTES:

Lafayette is now 4-1 in extra-inning games.

Jeff Butler's hitting streak was snapped at 14 games (12 in 2007 and 2 in 2006).