Lehigh University
Maryland-Eastern Shore
Mountain Hawks grab first victories of 2008
2/27/2008 1:45:00 PM | Baseball
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PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Lehigh earned its first two wins of the 2008 season, 6-1 and 4-2 on Wednesday over the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. In the first game, the Mountain Hawks received a strong pitching performance from sophomore starter Andrew Berger (1-1), who went five innings allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out six. The Brown and White had five different players drive in runs, led by freshman Austin Borden, who picked up his first two career RBI. Lehigh improves to 2-4 with the wins, while the Hawks fall to 0-5.
Lehigh struck first in the top of the second, when Geoff Campbell hit a sac fly to right field, bringing home Borden for the 1-0 advantage. The Mountain Hawks added a run in the third on a single by freshman Logan Marshall, who picked up his first career RBI on the play.
The Brown and White made it 3-0 in the fourth as Joe Ercolano knocked a single through the right side of the infield to bring home Andy Russell. The Hawks responded in the bottom half of the inning when Russel Deutschmann singled to right center to score Pat Hercinger from second base.
The Mountain Hawks rallied for a big inning in the top of the fifth to break the game open. Liam O’Connor and Marshall both reached base to start the inning. Brendan McGaheran laid down a sac bunt to advance the runners to second and third with one out.
Borden stepped to the plate and belted the ball to left center bringing in O’Connor and Marshall. Borden advanced to third on the play, bringing up Russell with one away. Russell did a great job of pulling the ball through the right side of the infield, allowing Borden to score easily and made the game 6-1 in favor of the Mountain Hawks.
Greg Mortka and Jordan Warncke came in to pitch the final four innings of scoreless relief. Matt Witte (0-1) was credited with the loss, going five innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits.
In the second game, Lehigh was trailing 1-0 in the fifth inning, when McGaheran hit a two run double to left to give the Mountain Hawks their first lead of the game. The Hawks responded in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly to center by Hercinger.
The score remained tied after seven, and the game went into extra innings, where the Mountain Hawks wasted no time breaking the tie.
Greg Angelo came into pitch in the eighth, striking out the side to earn his first save of the season. Joe Matteo struck out the side in the seventh to earn his first win of the 2008 season. Freshman Mike Lebo started the game, going five innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits, while striking out five.
Lehigh returns to action on Saturday against St. Bonaventure in the first game of the Papa John’s Challenge. The game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. from
