EASTON, PA -- A five-run eighth inning by Lafayette spelled the end for the University of Delaware baseball team as the Hens fell to the Leopards, 9-4, in the Liberty Bell Classic semifinals at the Class of '78 Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Adam Tsakonas roped two hits for Delaware (8-17), while Danny Overcash (at right) knocked in a run and scored another. Despite their efforts, the Hen offense was silenced for the last six innings of the game as Lafayette (12-9) rallied from two down to post its five-run victory.

With the game knotted at four entering the bottom of the eighth, the Lafayette lineup unloaded on freshman reliever Michael Londino. Pinch-hitter Justin Shepherd greeted the righty with a double to right and was followed by a single off the bat of Matt Hall. Following back-to-back walks to Tom Hayes and Ryan Roberts, the latter of which brought in Shepeherd, Rob Froio roped a run-scoring single through the right side of the infield that spelled the end of Londino's night.

After the Hens brought in David Slovak, the side-wheeling reliever struck out Daniel Bierce but surrendered a two-run single to Chris Luick before uncorking a wild pitch that brought home Froio for the final run of the game.

With the victory, Lafayette advances to the finals of the Liberty Bell Classic which will take place on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. The team will face Lehigh, who was victorious in its semifinal match-up with Temple yesterday. Delaware was vying for a spot in the finals for the first time since capturing the 2002 championship.

The Hens looked to be in control of the game during the early innings of the contest. Delaware opened the scoring in the top of the first after Kyle Davis walked, Tsakonas smacked a double down the left field line, and Alex Buchholz notched a sacrifice fly to right.

In the bottom of the inning, the Leopards responded to the Hens' run with two of their own after capitalizing on two Delaware errors. Froio reached on a miscue by Buchholz and advanced to third on a single by Bierce. Starter Dan Richardson then walked Luick to load the bases before an error by Davis led to Lafayette's first run.

Although Richardson then got Jeff Butler to ground into a double play, Bierce came home on the play to put the Leopards up by one at 2-1. The lead was short-lived, however, as Delaware came back with a two-spot of its own in the top of the second.

Overcash, who was making his first start since the team's season opener at The Citadel on February 23, opened the Hens' rally after getting hit by a pitch. Matt Harden followed with a single through the left side before Davis ripped a run-scoring double to left that brought home Overcash. Tsakonas then capped the inning with an RBI ground out to short.

Delaware tacked on another run in the top of the third after Chris DiLullo smacked a double, advanced to third on a ground out by Ryan Reed, and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Overcash.

Lafayette answered quickly with a run in the bottom of the third after Bierce singled, advanced to third on a double by Luick, and scored on an RBI ground out by Tom Ambrosole. Following two scoreless frames, the Leopards then tied the game in the sixth after Hall was hit by reliever Corey Crispell and eventually scored on a single by Ryan Roberts that was mishandled by leftfielder Todd Menchaca.

Brian Mostek (3-1) picked up the win for the Leopards after firing two scoreless innings of relief. Londino (0-2) took the loss for Delaware.

The Blue Hens will return to action on Friday for the start of a three-game series with Hofstra beginning at 3 p.m.

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