May 2, 2006

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Temple rallied from two-run deficits in both the eighth and ninth innings before Kevin Leasure ended Tuesday's non-league contest at Class of 1978 Stadium with a two-run walk-off home run to give Lafayette a 10-8 win over the Owls.

Lafayette (22-23) led 5-3 heading into the top of the eighth, but Temple scored three in the frame to take a 6-5 lead. Devon Swope started things with an RBI double, and Steve Mury landed the big blow with a two-out, two-run single to give the Owls their first lead of the game.

Tom Ambrosole greeted Tim Foulkrod with a homer to left center to lead off the bottom of the eighth and level the score at 6-all. After Tyler Zeronda drew a one-out walk, Ian Law followed with a double to left and Zeronda came all the way around to score, with Law moving to third on the throw. With Ryan Roberts at bat, head coach Joe Kinney put the squeeze on and Roberts laid down a beautiful bunt in self-protection, as Foulkrod slipped and the ball was headed for Roberts' body before he got his bat on it. Law came down the line on the play to give the Leopards an 8-6 advantage.

Temple got to Lafayette closer Jason Morytko for a pair of runs to tie the score again in the top of the ninth. Morytko retired the first two batters before Dan Brady singled to left. Swope picked up his second double in as many innings with a shot down the left field line which plated Brady, and scored as Lucio Rainelli drove an offering to the wall in right for a double. Morytko struck out Pat Riley to end the inning and preserve the tie score.

Kevin Reese opened the home half with a double to center and was replaced by pinch runner Daniel Bierce at second, but a failed sacrifice bunt left a man on first with one out. Leasure quickly ended any suspense, driving Foulkrod's offering over the fence in right center to maintain Lafayette's perfect record in Tuesday home games (3-0), all coming against Philadelphia schools.

Lafayette scored once in the first, as a sacrifice fly by Nick Benvenuto plated Law, and twice in the third on a pair of wild pitches, to build a 3-0 lead. Temple answered with three runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run triple to right by Frank Nunan, to tie the score.

Law singled home Leasure and Ambrosole scored on a sacrifice fly by Roberts to give the Leopards a pair of runs in the sixth.

Steve Roberts gave up three runs (one earned) in five innings before being relieved by Brian Mostek, who threw two innings before giving way to Nick Tucker. Morytko was the pitcher of record after throwing the ninth and improves to 2-1.

Four pitchers also went to the mound for Temple, with Rob Licata and Justin Mendek following starter Joe McGillan to the hill. Foulkrod fell to 1-6 with the loss, which dropped the Owls to 9-33 overall.

Lafayette will host New York Institute of Technology on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Class of 1978 Stadium before playing Fairleigh Dickinson in a home-and-home series over the weekend. The first set of games will be played in Teaneck, N.J. on Saturday before the action moves to Forks Township on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch both days is slated for 1 p.m.

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