March 31, 2005

Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette baseball team played its final non-conference tune-up on Thursday at Wagner, losing a 7-3 decision at Willetts Field.

All of Lafayette's offense came from the bat of junior shortstop Ian Law in the top of the fourth inning. With the Leopards trailing 2-0 with one out in the inning, Rob Fioretti got aboard after being hit by a pitch and Mike Raible reached on a walk. That set the stage for Law who smashed a home run to right centerfield to give the Leopards a 3-2 lead. Law, who had missed four games due to a facial injury, made his return on Wednesday against La Salle and has been playing with a batting helmet with a face guard at the plate and in the field.

Wagner (8-10) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, also using the long ball. Ed Sudol lifted a Doug Lunau offering over the wall in right center to make it 3-3.

Wagner took the lead for good with two runs in the sixth inning. With two outs and a runner at second, Gene Ronkiewicz pulled a double down the leftfield line. Matt Mastrianni followed with a run-scoring single that knocked in Ronkiewicz and gave Wagner the 5-3 advantage.

The host Seahawks used Sean Ferguson's seventh-inning double two plate to runs to push the final to 7-3.

Joe Testa earned the mound victory in his first collegiate start. He tossed six innings while striking out seven. The lone hit he surrendered was Law's three-run home run. Gator Weston came on in relief of Testa, hurling the final three innings while collecting a save. He struck out three and gave up two hits, singles to Adam Bucci and Fioretti.

Lunau got the mid-week start for the Leopards, allowing three runs in four innings while striking out two. Freshman Nick Tucker (1-1) worked the fifth and six innings and allowed Wagner's go-ahead runs in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore John Fugett made a strong showing in the final 1.2 innings. He whiffed two and did not allow a hit.

Lafayette opens Patriot League play on Saturday against Holy Cross. First pitch at the Class of 1978 Stadium is scheduled for noon. All four games of the Holy Cross series on Saturday and Sunday can be heard live on www.goleopards.com with Drew Moyer calling the action.