April 10, 2007

Box Score | More Coverage at the Lafayette News Stand | Post-Game Celebration | Photo Gallery

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Lafayette captured the 16th Annual Liberty Bell Classic title with a 7-3 victory over Lehigh on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Senior catcher Dave Drechsel put up a career night, ripping a three-run home run while finishing a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

The Leopards, who were appearing in their second straight Liberty Bell Classic championship game, improve to 17-11 while Lehigh falls to 11-17-1.

Lafayette jumped on Lehigh starter Billy Alec for four runs in the bottom of the first. With runners aboard on first and second and two outs, Nick Benvenuto doubled the opposite way down the leftfield line to score Jeff Butler (hit by pitch). The next batter, Drechsel, ripped a high fastball off the leftfield foul pole for a three-run homer. Lafayette led 4-0.

Lehigh sliced one run off Lafayette's advantage in the top of the second. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and third for the Mountain Hawks. Christian Valeriano stole second and Drechsel's throw to cut him down sailed into centerfield and allowed David Moscow to trot home from third with an unearned run.

Brian Cope earned his second win of the season to improve to 2-1.

Lafayette starter Brian Cope pitched into the sixth inning, giving up just the unearned run in the second. He left the game with one out and runners on first and second. Jason Morytko made the trip in from the bullpen and it was a successful one, as he enticed a flyball and ground out to end the inning with nothing across.

The Leopards manufactured a pair of runs in the seventh inning. Mike Raible reached on a lead-off walk. Kevin Leasure sacrificed him to second and he moved 90 feet closer to scoring when he stole third base. With two outs in the inning, Drechsel continued his stellar night, laying down a safety squeeze bunt that scored Raible and allowed Drechsel to reach safely. The inning continued when Drechsel stole second. The play paid off for Drechsel who scored on Chris Luick's single. Lafayette led 6-1.

Lafayette extended its lead to 7-1 in the bottom of the eighth. Leasure singled home Butler who kept the inning alive with a two-out walk. Lehigh added two runs off Lafayette reliever John Fugett in the ninth, but Fugett was able to stop the Mountain Hawk rally and the end game with a 7-3 decision.

Cope collected his second victory of the season. The senior struck out three and walked two while scattering five hits. Morytko threw 2.2 innings and did not allow a hit while fanning three. Alec was tagged with the loss, surrendering four runs on three hits in one inning of work.

Lafayette returns to action Wednesday, playing its sixth game in four days. The Leopards host Monmouth at 3:30 p.m. at the Class of 1978 Stadium.