BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Delaware left fielder Bryan Hagerich went 4-for-5 with two extra base hits and six RBIs as the Fightin’ Blue Hens rolled to a 12-4 victory over host Lehigh in the opening round of the 2006 Liberty Bell Classic. The game was played under near-frigid conditions at the baseball field on Goodman Campus Tuesday afternoon, and was shortened to seven innings due to darkness. The win moves Delaware (10-6) into the second round of the tournament against either La Salle or Temple. The Mountain Hawks (8-11) dropped their second straight.
Delaware jumped on the board early with a three-run homer from Hagerich, his fourth, in the top of the first to put the visitors up 3-0. However, Lehigh answered back with three runs of its own – on only one hit – in the bottom of the inning to tie the score.
With the game tied, the Fightin’ Blue Hens quickly forged ahead with a pair of runs in the second and six more in the third to put the game out of reach.
Lehigh pitchers issued seven walks, and the Mountain Hawks defense committed three errors in the game. Offensively, Lehigh was unable to take advantage of five Delaware errors.
Delaware hurler Kevin Brown (3-1) allowed only one earned run in six innings to earn the win. Lehigh’s Andrew Grim (0-2) took the loss.
Lehigh returns to the diamond on Saturday, as its nine-game home stand continues. The Mountain Hawks will host Binghamton in a four-game set with a pair of doubleheaders both Saturday and Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon each day at the baseball field on Goodman Campus.
