Temple University Athletics
LAFAYETTE WALK-OFF HOMER SENDS TEMPLE HOME WITH 10-8 LOSS
5.2.06 | Baseball
EASTON, PA - Lafayette's Kevin Leasure hit a two-run walk-off homerun with one out in the ninth inning to lift the Leopards over Temple, 10-8, in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon. The Owls rallied from late deficits in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the score but Leasure's fourth homer of the season gave LC the victory. Sophomore Devon Swope had two doubles and two RBI for TU.
The Cherry and White, which has yet to post a come-from-behind victory this season, rallied on three separate occasions and twice in its last two at-bats. Trailing 5-3 in the eighth, Temple scored three runs to take a 6-5 advantage. Swope doubled home sophomore Frank Nunan, who had walked, for the inning's first run. With two outs, freshman Steve Mury came up big with a two-run single to give the Owls their first lead of the game.
Senior Tim Foulkrod replaced classmate Justin Mendek in the eighth and was immediately greeted by a solo homer by Tom Ambrose. Lafayette would go on to score two more runs, including the final run on a suicide squeeze by Ryan Roberts, and took a 8-6 lead into the ninth.
Down to their last out, Temple rallied to tie the score. Junior Dan Brady (2-for-5) singled and scored on Swope's second double of the game. Sophomore Lucio Rainelli made the most of his first at-bat of the game, lining a double to right field that plated Swope and tied the game at 8-8.
The Leopards (22-23) opened their half of the ninth with a double by Kevin Reese. He was thrown out at third on a failed sacrifice bunt, however, it didn't matter as Leasure took Foulkrod deep to end the game.
Nunan provided a two-run triple in the fifth, while Mury ended the day with three RBI. Foulkrod (1-6) suffered the loss after giving up five earned runs in 1.1 innings.
Jason Morytko (2-1) picked up the win, despite giving up two earned runs in one inning.
Temple (9-33) hosts Villanova on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
