By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Lafayette scored six runs through the first two innings, and then eight runs in the third to slam the door on Bishop LeBlond, as the Irish won 16-1 in four innings Thursday at Phil Welch Stadium.
The win snapped what was a seven-game losing skid for the Irish on a day where Lafayette honored their seven seniors on Senior Day.
"Lots of good vibes," Lafayette head coach Matt Jansen said. "This is a memory they'll never forget. They earned it and I'm glad we were able to provide that for them and go out and just play a good baseball game."
LeBlond (1-6) got on the board in the top of the first. Ryland Kussman led off the game with the triple, and he scored on an RBI single from Jackson CDeBaca.
Lafayette (3-8) had the quick answer in the bottom of the first. An RBI double by Carter Bruce scored Drake Losson to knot the game at 1-1.
A dropped fly ball by LeBlond allowed two more runs to score, and the Irish went up 3-1 after the first.
Lafayette did more damage in the bottom of the second. A two-run RBI double to left field by Garrett Duncan was the highlight of another three-run inning for the Irish, as they led 6-1 after two.
Things were not easy for LeBlond offensively, either. The Golden Eagles were held to just three total hits Thursday, and Lafayette starting pitcher Dalton Heater settled in, striking out seven and walking no one.
Heater got the win in three innings of work. Reliever Halen Jonas put LeBlond down in order in the top of the fourth.
"I just had enough confidence to throw strikes," Heater said. "Just because of the defense behind me. We'd been struggling a little bit, but you can tell we're starting to turn it around. I'm excited for it."
Lafayette's offense did their most damage in the third, scoring eight runs on four hits and six walks. The Irish drew 14 free passes Thursday - 13 walks and one hit batter.
The Irish scored a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth to end the game in mercy rule. In all, 10 different Lafayette players scored a run, and 15 of them got to bat.
"We have been getting punched early in a lot of games," Jansen noted. "It was important that we responded. Not just for momentum, but just for team morale and all that stuff. It was a great day."
Losson was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Isaac McQuiston, Carter Bruce, Garrett Duncan and Matt Stubbs all scored twice in the game. Braden Jones had a double and two RBIs.
"It's real nice to go out there and get this win for the seniors," Losson said. "Especially with the start we've had to the season. It's good to kind of turn it around."
Lafayette plays at East Buchanan on Monday. LeBlond is home to Plattsburg Monday as well.
"We look forward to East Buchanan on Monday," Jansen said, as East Buchanan scored a 2-1 extra innings win over Plattsburg Thursday to improve to 8-1 overall.
"We want (the momentum) to carry over through this weekend."
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