Sunday, April 24
12 p.m.
Lehigh University
17-26, 0
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Lafayette
13-25, 0
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Lafayette
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Lehigh
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Lehigh completes series sweep of rival Lafayette with two wins on Senior Day Sunday
4/24/2016 6:13:00 PM | Baseball
| Lehigh-Lafayette Rivalry
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Impressive pitching performances led the Lehigh baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of rival Lafayette Sunday afternoon as the Mountain Hawks captured 5-2 and 6-3 victories over the Leopards to move back into postseason contention by completing the series sweep on Senior Day at Legacy Park. Lehigh rode strong starts from sophomores Sam Ashey and Mark Washington and clutch saves from seniors Kevin Boswick and Brandon Kulp. The Mountain Hawks improve to 18-26 overall and 7-9 in Patriot League play, while the Leopards fall to 13-26 overall and 6-10 against league opponents.
(4/24/2016) Baseball vs. Lafayette, 4/24/16
"The senior class was outstanding this weekend," said head coach Sean Leary. "We got two saves from two seniors today with Boswick pitching on no days rest and Kulp getting one of the toughest saves you could ever have. It was a great way to end senior weekend at Legacy Park."
Ashey allowed just one earned run in his five-inning game-one start while the Mountain Hawk bats rallied from a 2-1 deficit with a four-run third inning en route to the 5-2 game-one victory. Washington fired 6.1 shutout innings in the series finale before Kulp came in out of the bullpen to work out of a jam and throw 2.0 hitless frames.
Junior Patrick Donnelly went 4-for-8 at the plate in the two games combined with a team-best four RBI, while classmate John Scarr also knocked four hits in the Sunday twinbill. Scarr, Donnelly and senior Mike Garzillo scored two runs apiece, while junior David Young chipped in two RBI.
The Mountain Hawks started the weekend in last place in the Patriot League standings, but the four-game sweep and results from allowed the league have allowed Lehigh to move up into fourth place.
"We talked about this like it was a playoff series," said Leary. "We told them we needed to win three of four to stay in the playoff hunt and the guys responded outstandingly. We have another important series at Army next weekend."
The Mountain Hawks struck right away in the day's opener, a seven-inning contest, as sophomore James Bleming sent a one-out single up the middle before Donnelly drilled a two-out RBI double to left to put Lehigh ahead 1-0 through one inning.
A Lehigh error opened the second inning before Lafayette's Alex Nickles sent a two-run home run over the left field fence to put the Leopards ahead 2-1. Ashey kept the Leopards off the board in the top of the third before Lehigh was able to jump ahead in the bottom of the frame. Senior Anthony Rinaldi opened the inning with an infield single before a Lafayette error, fielder's choice and walk loaded the bases with one out. Donnelly ripped a line drive fielder's choice to third base to allow Rinaldi to run home and tie the game at 2-2. Young followed with a two-run double to left before junior Connor Donovan sent an RBI single to center and Lehigh took a 5-2 lead through three frames.
The Mountain Hawks weren't able to get anything else off Lafayette starter John Cain, but Ashey and Boswick kept the Leopards off the board for the final five innings of the game to lead Lehigh to the 5-2 game three victory. Ashey earned the win and finished with a line of two runs, one of which was earned, on four hits in five innings of work. Boswick fired two one-hit frames with a strikeout to collect the save.
After two and a half scoreless frames in the series finale, a full nine-inning affair, the Mountain Hawks were able to strike first as junior Jacen Nalesnik smacked a ground-rule double to right center before an RBI single to center from Garzillo scored the game's first run. Garzillo then stole second before being singled home by Donnelly to give the Mountain Hawks a 2-0 lead through three frames.
Washington kept the Leopards hitless for the first three frames until a hit by pitch and an infield single put two Leopards on base in the top of the fourth. A foul ball to left then threatened to serve as a Lafayette sacrifice fly and put the Leopards on the board, but Rinaldi made the catch in foul territory and gunned the running Leopard down at home to keep Lafayette off the board. The Leopards then used two infield singles to put a pair in scoring position with two outs in the top of the fifth, but Washington got a big strikeout to end the threat.
A solo home run from Donnelly added on a run for Lehigh in the bottom of the fifth to give the Mountain Hawks a 3-0 advantage. Scarr then led off the following inning with a double before a two-out double from Nalesnik put Lehigh up 4-0. Washington struck out the first batter of the seventh inning before issuing a walk and being relieved by freshman Ethan Frohman. Frohman quickly got Lafayette to ground into a double play to keep Lehigh's 4-0 lead in tact.
The Leopards were able to get on the board in the top of the eighth as an infield single was followed by a pair of walks to load the bases with no outs. Lafayette then used an RBI fielder's choice, Lehigh error and RBI double to pull within 4-3 still with no outs and two runners in scoring position. Kulp came out of the bullpen and got a groundout and two huge strikeouts to end the Leopard threat and keep Lehigh in front 4-3.
The Mountain Hawks added on a few insurance tallies in the bottom of the eighth as Donovan reached on a Lafayette error, Scarr knocked an infield single and senior Mackey Prince laid down a perfect bunt for a base hit to load the bases with no outs. Junior Stephen Fitzgerald then put down a bunt single before Bleming knocked an RBI base hit to right to put Lehigh ahead 6-3.
The first Leopard batter of the top of the ninth drew a walk, but Kulp got the next to line into a double play before a fly out ended the game and Lehigh walked away with the series sweep of the rival Leopards. Washington picked up his fourth win of the season, while Kulp secured his first save of the year. Lafayette starter Trevor Houck suffered the loss.
The Mountain Hawks remain home Tuesday to host Iona at 3:30 p.m. in Lehigh's final regular-season scheduled home game at Legacy Park. Free video will be available on the Patriot League Network.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Impressive pitching performances led the Lehigh baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of rival Lafayette Sunday afternoon as the Mountain Hawks captured 5-2 and 6-3 victories over the Leopards to move back into postseason contention by completing the series sweep on Senior Day at Legacy Park. Lehigh rode strong starts from sophomores Sam Ashey and Mark Washington and clutch saves from seniors Kevin Boswick and Brandon Kulp. The Mountain Hawks improve to 18-26 overall and 7-9 in Patriot League play, while the Leopards fall to 13-26 overall and 6-10 against league opponents.
"The senior class was outstanding this weekend," said head coach Sean Leary. "We got two saves from two seniors today with Boswick pitching on no days rest and Kulp getting one of the toughest saves you could ever have. It was a great way to end senior weekend at Legacy Park."
Ashey allowed just one earned run in his five-inning game-one start while the Mountain Hawk bats rallied from a 2-1 deficit with a four-run third inning en route to the 5-2 game-one victory. Washington fired 6.1 shutout innings in the series finale before Kulp came in out of the bullpen to work out of a jam and throw 2.0 hitless frames.
Junior Patrick Donnelly went 4-for-8 at the plate in the two games combined with a team-best four RBI, while classmate John Scarr also knocked four hits in the Sunday twinbill. Scarr, Donnelly and senior Mike Garzillo scored two runs apiece, while junior David Young chipped in two RBI.
The Mountain Hawks started the weekend in last place in the Patriot League standings, but the four-game sweep and results from allowed the league have allowed Lehigh to move up into fourth place.
"We talked about this like it was a playoff series," said Leary. "We told them we needed to win three of four to stay in the playoff hunt and the guys responded outstandingly. We have another important series at Army next weekend."
The Mountain Hawks struck right away in the day's opener, a seven-inning contest, as sophomore James Bleming sent a one-out single up the middle before Donnelly drilled a two-out RBI double to left to put Lehigh ahead 1-0 through one inning.
A Lehigh error opened the second inning before Lafayette's Alex Nickles sent a two-run home run over the left field fence to put the Leopards ahead 2-1. Ashey kept the Leopards off the board in the top of the third before Lehigh was able to jump ahead in the bottom of the frame. Senior Anthony Rinaldi opened the inning with an infield single before a Lafayette error, fielder's choice and walk loaded the bases with one out. Donnelly ripped a line drive fielder's choice to third base to allow Rinaldi to run home and tie the game at 2-2. Young followed with a two-run double to left before junior Connor Donovan sent an RBI single to center and Lehigh took a 5-2 lead through three frames.
The Mountain Hawks weren't able to get anything else off Lafayette starter John Cain, but Ashey and Boswick kept the Leopards off the board for the final five innings of the game to lead Lehigh to the 5-2 game three victory. Ashey earned the win and finished with a line of two runs, one of which was earned, on four hits in five innings of work. Boswick fired two one-hit frames with a strikeout to collect the save.
After two and a half scoreless frames in the series finale, a full nine-inning affair, the Mountain Hawks were able to strike first as junior Jacen Nalesnik smacked a ground-rule double to right center before an RBI single to center from Garzillo scored the game's first run. Garzillo then stole second before being singled home by Donnelly to give the Mountain Hawks a 2-0 lead through three frames.
Washington kept the Leopards hitless for the first three frames until a hit by pitch and an infield single put two Leopards on base in the top of the fourth. A foul ball to left then threatened to serve as a Lafayette sacrifice fly and put the Leopards on the board, but Rinaldi made the catch in foul territory and gunned the running Leopard down at home to keep Lafayette off the board. The Leopards then used two infield singles to put a pair in scoring position with two outs in the top of the fifth, but Washington got a big strikeout to end the threat.
A solo home run from Donnelly added on a run for Lehigh in the bottom of the fifth to give the Mountain Hawks a 3-0 advantage. Scarr then led off the following inning with a double before a two-out double from Nalesnik put Lehigh up 4-0. Washington struck out the first batter of the seventh inning before issuing a walk and being relieved by freshman Ethan Frohman. Frohman quickly got Lafayette to ground into a double play to keep Lehigh's 4-0 lead in tact.
The Leopards were able to get on the board in the top of the eighth as an infield single was followed by a pair of walks to load the bases with no outs. Lafayette then used an RBI fielder's choice, Lehigh error and RBI double to pull within 4-3 still with no outs and two runners in scoring position. Kulp came out of the bullpen and got a groundout and two huge strikeouts to end the Leopard threat and keep Lehigh in front 4-3.
The Mountain Hawks added on a few insurance tallies in the bottom of the eighth as Donovan reached on a Lafayette error, Scarr knocked an infield single and senior Mackey Prince laid down a perfect bunt for a base hit to load the bases with no outs. Junior Stephen Fitzgerald then put down a bunt single before Bleming knocked an RBI base hit to right to put Lehigh ahead 6-3.
The first Leopard batter of the top of the ninth drew a walk, but Kulp got the next to line into a double play before a fly out ended the game and Lehigh walked away with the series sweep of the rival Leopards. Washington picked up his fourth win of the season, while Kulp secured his first save of the year. Lafayette starter Trevor Houck suffered the loss.
The Mountain Hawks remain home Tuesday to host Iona at 3:30 p.m. in Lehigh's final regular-season scheduled home game at Legacy Park. Free video will be available on the Patriot League Network.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ashey, Sam (4-4)
L: Cain, John (1-5)
S: Boswick, Kevin (2)
Batting:
HR: Nickles, Alex 1
RBI: Nickles, Alex 2
SH: Leckie, Dan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cohen, Steven 1 ; Nickles, Alex 1
SB: Coniglio, Michael 1 ; Rouse, Spencer 1
HBP: Rouse, Spencer 1
Batting:
2B: Donnelly, Patrick 1 ; Young, David 1
RBI: Donnelly, Patrick 2 ; Young, David 2 ; Donovan, Connor 1
SH: Nalesnik, Jacen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bleming, James 1 ; Garzillo, Mike 1 ; Donnelly, Patrick 1 ; Young, David 1 ; Rinaldi, Anthony 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
cf/lf
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF/IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball3B
/ Baseball
1B/P
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
2B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballP/IF
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Thursday, February 13
