Lehigh University
Army
Lehigh opens league play with doubleheader split at Army
3/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
In the opener, Lehigh broke a scoreless tie in the top of the second by plating five runs. Three straight Lehigh hitters walked to start the frame, and center fielder Dan Russell singled home a pair to give Lehigh a two-run advantage. After Lehigh scored an unearned run, third baseman Jesse Novalis doubled home two more to give Lehigh a 5-0 lead.
The five-run frame proved to be more than enough for Mountain Hawks’ ace Jack Muscalus. The junior pitched a complete game, striking out eight Army hitters to run his record to a team-best 4-1 on the season.
Despite the comfortable lead, the Mountain Hawks offense continued to pound Army freshman starter Nick Hill (4-2). Hill, who was the league’s pitcher of the week, struggled with his control all afternoon. When he did find the zone, the Lehigh offense took advantage. Zaszewski hit his first homer of the season – a two-run shot to left – in the top of the fourth inning. He added another two-run blast to left in the top of the sixth. Sandwiched in between, freshman designated hitter Steve Salemme walloped a solo blast to left in the fifth.
In the win, Lehigh scored ten times, despite the benefit of only seven hits.
Game two started off promising as well for the Brown & White. Lehigh posted a four-spot in the top of the third to take a 4-0 lead. Meanwhile, sophomore Kyle Collina was cruising on the mound for the Mountain Hawks. After striking out the side (all looking) in the bottom of the first, the Bethlehem product remained in a groove through the first four innings. By the end of that frame, he had already matched his career high with six strikeouts.
However, things unraveled quickly for Collina (0-3) and Lehigh in the bottom of the fifth. Five straight Army players reached base – and all ultimately scored – as the Black Knights pulled ahead. Lehigh head coach Sean Leary went to his bullpen, but Keith Frerichs didn’t have the answer Saturday. The right-hander faced three batters, and all three Army hitters posted extra-base hits and ultimately scored runs.
By the time Karl Weimer recorded the third out in the fifth inning, eight Army runners had crossed the plate and the Black Knights suddenly led 8-4.
Lehigh battled back, and cut the Army deficit to one run at 9-8. The Mountain Hawks had the tying run on base in the ninth inning, but Lehigh could not push Eric Hoffman across and the Black Knights earned the doubleheader split.
John Zaszewski led the Lehigh offense with five total hits on the day. After being kept quiet in game one, freshman catcher Matt McBride was 3-for-4 with two runs scored in game two. Despite scoring a run, first baseman Forrest Doane was held hitless in the opener, spoiling his hitting streak at nine games. Doane did register a hit in the nightcap.
The Mountain Hawks and Black Knights return to action Sunday to wrap up their four-game set with another twinbill at Doubleday Field. Game one’s first pitch is scheduled for noon. Left-hander Adam Marr is the scheduled starter for the Mountain Hawks.
