Lehigh University
Navy
Mountain Hawks, Midshipmen split Sunday twinbill
4/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Senior captain Jack Muscalus became Lehigh’s all-time wins leader as he threw 6.1 innings to earn the game one victory. The win – Muscalus’ 25th career – pushes him past Mitch Smith ’79 atop Lehigh’s all-time list. Although he allowed five runs, Muscalus (4-1) was leading by a 10-0 score in the seventh and final inning when Navy dented the scoreboard.
Offensively in the opener, the Mountain Hawks did the bulk of their damage with a six-spot in the home half of the first off Navy starter Burgess Nichols. The big blow was a three-run home run from sophomore catcher Matt McBride, his second long ball of the season. In the fifth inning, designated hitter Matt Geiger connected on a two-run homer to help put the game out of reach.
With the game time temperature hovering around 46 degrees with a biting variable wind, there didn’t figure to be much offense from either team. However, the two squads combined for 15 runs on 25 hits in game one alone.
In the second contest, Lehigh freshman hurler Joe Matteo took a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning before Navy touched him up for six runs – although only two were earned. Matteo (3-3) was sharp through the first six innings but began to struggle with his control in the seventh.
Navy scored six times in the seventh inning, and then hung on for the two-run victory.
Forrest Doane tied a Lehigh single season record with his tenth homer of the season – a solo shot to right-center in the bottom of the seventh. Two batters later, it was Geiger with a solo blast to right, his second long ball of the day.
Senior Matt Mezzancello was strong in 2.1 innings of relief for the Mountain Hawks, striking out three batters and allowing only one hit. Navy starter Mark McCoy (2-4) pitched seven innings to earn the win, and Mitch Harris recorded the game’s final out to notch his second save.
The two teams will renew acquaintances on Monday with another doubleheader at Goodman Field. First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 pm, and both games will be broadcast live on the Lehigh web site at lehighsports.com, with streaming provided by Yahoo! Sports.
