Saturday, May 16
Annapolis, Md.
3 p.m.
Lehigh University
24-27
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at
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No. 1 Navy
37-19
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Navy
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Lehigh
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Lehigh wins Patriot League Championship with 4-3 game three win at Navy
5/17/2015 5:11:00 PM | Baseball
| Get your Patriot League Championship t-shirt here!
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Lehigh baseball team won the Patriot League Championship Sunday afternoon at top-seeded Navy when the Mountain Hawks gutted out a 4-3, 10-inning win in the championship series' decisive game three. The Mountain Hawks add the program's second-ever league crown after winning the championship in 2006 and earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.(5/17/2015) Baseball at Navy, PL Champ 5/17/15
"I can't even describe in words right now how we feel," said head coach Sean Leary. "To see those guys running around and hugging eachother, I know they're celebrating for themselves, their teammates and some of the alumni who were just a half a step short of accomplishing what this team accomplished. This isn't just about the 2015 team. It's a program win and an opportunity for us to showcase ourselves on the national level."
Navy was able force a game three after picking up a 9-8, 11-inning win in game two that was suspended Saturday and resumed Sunday. The Mountain Hawks then followed the lead of senior starting pitcher Nick Macaione in game three as he fired all ten innings while allowing just three runs, only two of which were earned, on five hits with four strikeouts. Senior Connor Faust recorded the game-winning RBI in the top of the tenth inning.
Junior Mike Garzillo was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP after tallying 11 RBI and five home runs throughout Lehigh's six postseason games. Macaione, senior Nick Stephens and junior Kevin Boswick were also named to the All-Tournament team.
"We showed a lot of leadership out there in game three," said Garzillo. "We stayed even keeled and played Lehigh baseball and were able to come out with the championship. This is something we've been working towards for years. Coach Leary has been unbelievable to us and the past players started all of this. We're just happy to get the ring."
The decisive game three was scoreless for the first three and a half innings until the Mids put up two runs in the bottom of the fourth frame. Lehigh answered right away by putting up a three spot in the top of the fifth. Senior Tim McKay was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before freshman James Bleming singled through the left side. Senior Justin Pacchioli laid down a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt and a Navy throwing error allowed McKay to run home and put Lehigh on the board. Sophomore Jacen Nalesnik followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop to tie the game at two before Garzillo sent a sacrifice fly to center field to give Lehigh a 3-2 lead.
After a scoreless sixth inning, Navy was able to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI triple from Logan Knowles. Macaione kept the Mids off the board for the eighth and ninth to send the game into extra innings.
Garzillo opened the top of the tenth with a double to right field. Senior John Elson knocked an infield single a batter later. Following a strikeout, Faust faced an 0-2 count and ripped a single up the middle to score the game-winning run.
Macaione took care of the rest, getting a foul out to open the bottom of the tenth before striking out two Mids to earn the 4-3 win and Patriot League Championship.
In game two Saturday, Lehigh took an early 3-0 lead before the Mids rallied to take a 7-4 lead in the seventh. The Mountain Hawks scored three in the bottom of the seventh before Navy went ahead 8-7 in the eighth. Garzillo's home run then tied the game in the eighth inning before senior J.R. Edwards kept the Mids off the board in the ninth and tenth. Nalesnik roped a leadoff double to open the bottom of the tenth before the game was suspended.
The series' second game resumed at noon Sunday when Garzillo was up to bat with a 1-0 count and Nalesnik stood on second. Navy's Jett Meenach finished his intentional walk to Garzillo before the Mids brought on Kyle Condry who sat down the next three Mountain Hawks to send the game to the top of the 11th.
Junior Brandon Kulp took the mound for Lehigh as Navy's Sean Trent sent a leadoff single to right field before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Trent then scored on a wild pitch to give the Mids a 9-8 lead. Condry followed by sitting down the Mountain Hawks in order in the bottom of the 11th to send the game to a decisive game three.
The Mountain Hawks earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament and will learn their Regionals destination during the selection show on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Lehigh baseball team won the Patriot League Championship Sunday afternoon at top-seeded Navy when the Mountain Hawks gutted out a 4-3, 10-inning win in the championship series' decisive game three. The Mountain Hawks add the program's second-ever league crown after winning the championship in 2006 and earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
"I can't even describe in words right now how we feel," said head coach Sean Leary. "To see those guys running around and hugging eachother, I know they're celebrating for themselves, their teammates and some of the alumni who were just a half a step short of accomplishing what this team accomplished. This isn't just about the 2015 team. It's a program win and an opportunity for us to showcase ourselves on the national level."
Navy was able force a game three after picking up a 9-8, 11-inning win in game two that was suspended Saturday and resumed Sunday. The Mountain Hawks then followed the lead of senior starting pitcher Nick Macaione in game three as he fired all ten innings while allowing just three runs, only two of which were earned, on five hits with four strikeouts. Senior Connor Faust recorded the game-winning RBI in the top of the tenth inning.
Junior Mike Garzillo was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP after tallying 11 RBI and five home runs throughout Lehigh's six postseason games. Macaione, senior Nick Stephens and junior Kevin Boswick were also named to the All-Tournament team.
"We showed a lot of leadership out there in game three," said Garzillo. "We stayed even keeled and played Lehigh baseball and were able to come out with the championship. This is something we've been working towards for years. Coach Leary has been unbelievable to us and the past players started all of this. We're just happy to get the ring."
The decisive game three was scoreless for the first three and a half innings until the Mids put up two runs in the bottom of the fourth frame. Lehigh answered right away by putting up a three spot in the top of the fifth. Senior Tim McKay was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before freshman James Bleming singled through the left side. Senior Justin Pacchioli laid down a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt and a Navy throwing error allowed McKay to run home and put Lehigh on the board. Sophomore Jacen Nalesnik followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop to tie the game at two before Garzillo sent a sacrifice fly to center field to give Lehigh a 3-2 lead.
After a scoreless sixth inning, Navy was able to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI triple from Logan Knowles. Macaione kept the Mids off the board for the eighth and ninth to send the game into extra innings.
Garzillo opened the top of the tenth with a double to right field. Senior John Elson knocked an infield single a batter later. Following a strikeout, Faust faced an 0-2 count and ripped a single up the middle to score the game-winning run.
Macaione took care of the rest, getting a foul out to open the bottom of the tenth before striking out two Mids to earn the 4-3 win and Patriot League Championship.
In game two Saturday, Lehigh took an early 3-0 lead before the Mids rallied to take a 7-4 lead in the seventh. The Mountain Hawks scored three in the bottom of the seventh before Navy went ahead 8-7 in the eighth. Garzillo's home run then tied the game in the eighth inning before senior J.R. Edwards kept the Mids off the board in the ninth and tenth. Nalesnik roped a leadoff double to open the bottom of the tenth before the game was suspended.
The series' second game resumed at noon Sunday when Garzillo was up to bat with a 1-0 count and Nalesnik stood on second. Navy's Jett Meenach finished his intentional walk to Garzillo before the Mids brought on Kyle Condry who sat down the next three Mountain Hawks to send the game to the top of the 11th.
Junior Brandon Kulp took the mound for Lehigh as Navy's Sean Trent sent a leadoff single to right field before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Trent then scored on a wild pitch to give the Mids a 9-8 lead. Condry followed by sitting down the Mountain Hawks in order in the bottom of the 11th to send the game to a decisive game three.
The Mountain Hawks earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament and will learn their Regionals destination during the selection show on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Condry, Kyle (2-5)
L: Kulp, Brandon (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Trent, Sean 1
3B: Born, Stephen 1 ; Deneen, Connor 1 ; Blue, Travis 1
RBI: Currie, Robert 1 ; Borosak, Brad 1 ; Trent, Sean 2 ; Chinnery, Adrian 2
SH: Borosak, Brad 1 ; Born, Stephen 1 ; Blue, Travis 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Currie, Robert 1 ; Trent, Sean 2 ; Born, Stephen 1 ; Deneen, Connor 2 ; Knowles, Logan 2 ; Blue, Travis 1
SB: Currie, Robert 2 ; Borosak, Brad 1
CS: Borosak, Brad 1
Batting:
2B: Nalesnik, Jacen 1 ; Elson, John 1
HR: Garzillo, Mike 1 ; Donnelly, Patrick 1
RBI: Garzillo, Mike 1 ; Donnelly, Patrick 1 ; Elson, John 1 ; Walshe, Patrick 2 ; Faust, Connor 1 ; McKay, Tim 1 ; Bleming, James 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nalesnik, Jacen 1 ; Garzillo, Mike 2 ; Donnelly, Patrick 3 ; Elson, John 1 ; Walshe, Patrick 1
HBP: Faust, Connor 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
6
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
6
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
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