March 10, 2008
DAVIDSON, N.C.--For all the offensive success he's had during his Yale career, Ryan Lavarnway did something on Monday that he's never done before--go deep twice in the same game. However, despite his two home runs and three RBIs, the Bulldogs (2-5) dropped a 7-6 decision to Davidson (6-8) at Wilson Field. The Wildcats pushed across the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth, then held off a Yale rally in the top of the ninth to preserve the victory.
Davidson's Pat Brady doubled to left leading off the bottom of the eighth, then moved to third on Hugh Eden's sacrifice bunt. Brett Shore was intentionally walked to set up the double play, but was thrown out stealing second. After Zach Kayne was intentionally walked, Chase FitzPatrick singled to put the Wildcats in front.
Davidson closer Mike Frongello came in to face the top of the Yale order in the ninth. At the end of a nine-pitch at-bat where he fouled off seven pitches, Josh Cox connected on a double to left leading off the inning. He moved to third on Stefan Schropp's sacrifice bunt. Frongello then pitched around Lavarnway, putting the go-ahead run on with one out. After Jake Doyle struck out, pinch hitter Trygg Larsson-Danforth grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Yale starter Brian Irving surrendered a two-run homer to FitzPatrick in the bottom of the first, but the Bulldogs immediately got the runs back on an RBI single by Gant Elmore in the second and Lavarnway's solo shot to left field leading off the third. The Bulldogs took the lead for the first time in the top of the fifth when Schropp singled, then Lavarnway and Doyle followed with back-to-back home runs.
The Wildcats tied it with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Eden reached on a bunt single leading off the inning, then Shore and Kayne tried unsuccessfully to move him over. After FitzPatrick walked, Jay Honeycutt tied the game with his seventh home run of the season, a three-run blast to left center. Yale went back in front in the top of the sixth on Andrew Kolmar's second home run in as many days, but the Wildcats tied it once again in the bottom half of the inning.
Irving went 5.1 innings for the Bulldogs, surrendering six runs and seven hits with six strikeouts and five walks. Vinny Lally finished the sixth before giving way to John Henry Davis. Davis (0-1) gave up a pair of singles, but struck out three in the seventh before yielding Brady's double to start the eighth. Chris Walsh finished up for Yale.
Lavarnway went 3-for-4 and Doyle went 2-for-5 at the plate. As a team, the Bulldogs belted 11 hits.
Chris Kennedy started for Davidson, but couldn't get out of the three-run fifth. He lasted 4.1 innings, giving up five runs and seven hits while striking out seven and walking one. Ian Horkley worked 2.2 innings, giving up one runs and three hits with one strikeout before Matt Sliwiak (2-0) pitched a perfect eighth. Frongello's save was his second of the series and fourth of the season.
FitzPatrick and Honeycutt each drove in three runs for the Wildcats. FitzPatrick went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored twice, while Honeycutt went 2-for-5 and Eden was 2-for-3. Davidson also had 11 hits as a team.
Yale continues its Spring Break southern road trip with a two-game series at No. 8 South Carolina (8-2) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday's contest begins at 7 p.m. with right-handers Schropp and Nick Godwin as the scheduled starters.
Report filed by Joe Clifford, Yale Sports Publicity