Lehigh University
NJIT
Mountain Hawks win both games on Sunday
3/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
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The Highlanders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first game after the first inning, but Lehigh pulled to within one in the third when junior Joe Ercolano singled to right field to drive in classmate Liam O’Connor, who was on second. Senior Nick Bet tied the game in the sixth when he crossed home plate due to a wild pitch. However, in the bottom of the sixth, Kwesi Mitchell hit a two-run homer to center field to give NJIT a 4-2 lead heading into the final inning.
The Mountain Hawks came out swinging in the seventh with both sophomore Geoff Campbell and O’Connor hitting singles to right field. A sacrifice bunt by Ercolano allowed Campbell and O’Connor to advance one base. Freshman Patrick Groome ripped a two-run double to right field to even the score at four. With two outs, Groome scored off a Matt Reitz single to put the Mountian Hawks ahead 5-4.
In the second game, Lehigh held a 2-0 lead midway through the third inning, but the Highlanders powered their way back in the bottom of the third to take a 4-2 lead. However, freshman Mark Woleslagle singled down the left field line that scored senior David Moscow to bring Lehigh to within one in the fourth inning then a Dan Clauson RBI single in the fifth inning tied the game at four.
The Mountain Hawks took the lead for good in the sixth inning. Lehigh saw runs from Woleslagle, Ercolano and O’Connor to carry a 7-4 advantage. Lehigh added a run in the top of the eighth to take a four-run lead, but the Highlanders trimmed the Mountain Hawks’ lead to two in bottom of the eighth to make the score 8-6.
The final inning gave Lehigh plenty of breathing room as the Mountain Hawks reeled off four runs. With bases loaded and one out, O’Connor singled to right field to score Groome. Then Bet hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Woleslagle to score. With runners on second and third, Reitz hit a two-run single to center field to make the score 12-6.
In the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Jason Leo struck out all three NJIT batters as Lehigh won its fourth consecutive game away from the Goodman Campus.
Junior Andrew Grim was awarded the win and improves to 2-0 on the season. Grim pitched five innings and struck out two batters. PJ Saporito picked up the loss after he struck out eight batters, but allowed seven runs in 5.1 innings.
The Mountain Hawks return to action on Wednesday when they host
