Lehigh University
Army
LU shares regular season title; will host tourney
4/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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WEST POINT, N.Y. – Lehigh captured a share of the 2006 Patriot League regular season title as the Mountain Hawks spilt a doubleheader with Army at Doubleday Field in the final two games of the regular season on Sunday afternoon. The Mountain Hawks used a brilliant pitching performance from sophomore Joe Matteo in game one to earn a 3-1 win. Army rallied to take the night cap, 5-3. Lehigh ends the regular season with a 13-7 league mark, the same as Bucknell. However, because the Mountain Hawks took three of four from the Bison earlier this month in Lewisburg, the Mountain Hawks will host the tournament for the first time ever as the No. 1 seed.
“I couldn’t be more excited for this team, especially the seniors,” said Lehigh head coach Sean Leary following the win. “They’ve been here three years and know what it means to be able to host this tournament.”
Lehigh (25-25 overall) won the opener by a 3-1 score, thanks to a brilliant three-hit complete game effort from Joe Matteo. Matteo (6-3) struck out seven and did not a walk a batter in the complete game win.
The Mountain Hawks got on the board in the third inning, when Nick Bet drew a bases loaded walk to make the score
Game two started off in promising fashion, as center fielder Joe Ercolano led off the game with a solo home run to right field. Matt McBride doubled home Ercolano in the third, driving in his 50th run of the season – a new Lehigh and Patriot League record. Lehigh added one more in the fifth, when McBride doubled in Matt Geiger to give the Mountain Hawks a 3-1 advantage.
However, Army rallied for four runs off the Lehigh bullpen, and the Black Knights salvaged a split in the four-game set with a 5-3 win. Lehigh senior Joe Raniszewski pitched five strong innings, but left with a no decision. Sophomore Billy Alec was saddled with the loss, dropping to 2-4.
Lehigh had trouble figuring out the Black Knights bullpen, as Army relievers allowed just one unearned run while striking out nine in the games final five innings. Dan Pluff (2-0) pitched three innings to earn the win. Milan Dinga pitched the game’s final two innings to notch his ninth save.
Lehigh returns to the diamond on Saturday, May 13, when the Mountain Hawks host the 2006 Patriot League baseball tournament at the baseball field on Goodman Campus. Third seed
