April 27, 2005
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) -
Rutgers scored seven runs in the third inning to grab hold of the lead and eventually pulled away to a 17-1 victory over Lafayette on Wednesday in non-conference baseball action at the Class of 1978 Stadium.
Despite the outcome, the Leopards held a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Mike Raible took one for the team, getting drilled in the middle of the back by a Jim Jansen offering. With the hit-and-run on and the Rutgers second baseman sliding over to cover the steal, Dave Drechsel, slapped the ball through the right to advance Raible to third. The next batter up, Frank Cortazar, lifted a ball deep to centerfield to score Raible and give Lafayette the 1-0 advantage.
Rutgers responded with seven runs on just five hits in the top of the third inning with all seven of the runs coming with two outs. The Scarlet Knights sent 10 batters to the plate in the third. Johnny Defendis (single) and Dave Williams (double), each drove in a pair of runs while Cory Rodriguez (single) and Jon Gossard (double) knocked in one. Sophomore John Fugett came on in relief of classmate Brian Cope and ended the inning with a strikeout.
Lafayette had a chance to get back into the game in the fifth inning. The Leopards loaded the bases with one out thanks to singles by Cortazar and Rob Fioretti and a James Conrad walk. Ian Law popped out and Kevin Leasure scorched a ball into the hole at shortstop, but Todd Frazier came up with it and made the only play he had, to second to force out Firoetti and end the inning.
Rutgers scored 10 runs over the final four innings to put the game way. The Scarlet Knights cranked out six runs in the top of the seventh. Frazier delivered the big blow of the frame off Lafayette reliever
Jason Morytko, a three-run shot to rightfield.
For the day, Rutgers belted out 21 hits, including 11 extra-base hits. Colin Gaynor (4-for-4) had three doubles while Rodriguez (3-for-4) and Williams each had two. The Leopards had six different players account for the team's six hits.
Cope (1-5) took the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits over 2.2 innings. He was one of five pitchers used by Lafayette. Fugett struck out five over 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. For Rutgers, Jansen (3-1) tossed seven innings, allowing one run on five hits.
Lafayette next hosts lehigh on Saturday for the first two games of a four-game series. First pitch is slated for noon.
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