Lehigh University
Temple
Lehigh, finally home, outlasts Temple and Mother Nature
3/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Temple got on the board first, thanks to a two-run homer to right from Pete Colon in the first inning. Lehigh got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning, when a Matt McBride ground out plated John Zaszewski.
The Owls, trying desperately to pull away, went up by scores of 4-1 and 7-3 before the Mountain Hawks offense exploded for ten runs in the middle innings – five alone in the fifth inning – to give Lehigh its first lead of the blustery afternoon.
The Mountain Hawks never trailed again, and hung on for the victory. Right fielder Jeff Baker was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, lacing two doubles and driving in four runs. Center fielder Dan Russell added a double and three RBIs. Six other Mountain Hawks ripped two hits on the afternoon.
Temple was led by center fielder John Quigley, who was 3-for-5 with a homer and three runs scored.
Battling a game time temperature of 42 degrees with fierce winds at 20 miles per hour, pitchers had a tough time with location all afternoon. The gusty winds wreaked havoc on both defenses, and the rock-hard playing surface turned ground balls into unpredictable lasers.
Temple finished the day with 13 runs and 13 hits, while Lehigh scored 14 times on 17 hits. There were four miscues in the game, and the two teams left a combined 16 runners on base.
Karl Weimer (1-0) pitched three innings of relief to earn his first victory of the season for Lehigh. John Zaszewski, who started the game at second base, pitched the final two innings for his first career save.
Lehigh returns to Goodman Field Wednesday to host Manhattan. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00.
