For Immediate Release: March 13, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton baseball beats Lafayette 4-1 in California tournament opener
Diamond improves to 2-0, Simek drives in pair of runs at Johnny Quik Classic

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Junior second baseman Matt Simek (Vestal, N.Y.) hit a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning to break open a close game and give Binghamton (2-2-1) a 4-1 win over Lafayette (3-5) in the opening game of the Fresno State Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic Monday afternoon at Beiden Field.

Simek, who also stole two bases, singled to right field on a 2-2 pitch, scoring freshman left fielder Ken Jacobi (Milford, Conn.) and freshman third baseman Kyle Klee (Rochester, N.Y.) to stretch BU's lead from 2-1 to 4-1. Jacobi had led off the inning with a double down the left field line and Klee followed with a walk. Both runners advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by junior shortstop Justin Smucker (Bird-in-Hand, Pa.).

Junior right fielder Jeff Monaco (Binghamton, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI single.

Both teams were limited to four hits but Lafayette stranded nine runners.

Sophomore pitcher Scott Diamond (Guelph, Ontario) improved to 2-0 after five strong innings of work. Diamond scattered three hits and struck out five, allowing only an earned run in the third inning. Junior Mike Van Gorder (Vestal, N.Y.) went three innings of middle relief before senior transfer Scott Rademacker (Marilla, N.Y.) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his first save at Binghamton.

"We were okay today," head coach Tim Sinicki said. "We could've played better but we were able to grind out a win. It's nice to start the tournament with a win."

Binghamton continues its six-games-in-six-days trip with a Tuesday evening matchup against Pac-10 member Washinton State.

NOTES
Jacobi leads the team with a .538 average... in two starts, Diamond is 2-0 with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings and a 0.90 earned run average... Van Gorder has pitched six scoreless innings in 2006.