Lehigh University Athletics
La Salle rallies past Lehigh in eight innings
9/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Philadelphia, PA – Despite two-run homers from Jesse Novalis and Jeff Baker – Lehigh’s first two long balls of the season – La Salle earned its first win of the 2003 campaign by out-lasting the Mountain Hawks by a 9-8 score at Hank DeVincent Field on Tuesday afternoon. The game was shortened to eight innings because of darkness. With the loss, Lehigh evens its record at 5-5, while the win improves the Explorers’ record to 1-8.
After La Salle got on the board with a two-spot in the bottom of the first, the Mountain Hawks rallied to tie the contest in the top of the fourth. Second baseman John Zaszewski reached on an error to start the frame, and then Novalis, Lehigh’s third baseman, smacked a two-run homer to left field, evening the score.
The Mountain Hawks forged ahead by scoring four times in the fifth to build a 6-2 advantage. Jeff Quiros laced a two-run single to left to give Lehigh a 4-2 lead, and the next batter, Baker, homered to left to give the Mountain Hawks a four-run cushion.
However, the Explorers rallied with seven runs over the final four innings to earn the come-from-behind victory.
Lehigh was unable to take advantage of opportunities throughout the contest. Though the Mountain Hawks managed only five hits, La Salle committed five errors, and Explorers pitching walked nine Lehigh batters. All in all, the Brown & White stranded ten runners on base.
On the mound, sophomore Kyle Stawicki got the start, and left with no decision after five and a third innings of work. Matt Nusinov – who allowed two unearned runs in an inning of relief – suffered the tough-luck defeat.
For a complete box score from the Lehigh-La Salle game, simply press the Back button on your browser, and select the "Most Recent Box Score" link on the right-hand column of the main Lehigh baseball page.
Lehigh is right back in action on Wednesday, as the Mountain Hawks visit New York to take on the Manhattan Jaspers. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00.
Scoring
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E |
Lehigh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 2 |
La Salle | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 5 |
WP – Eric Ruhland, La Salle (1-1)
LP – Matt Nusinov, Lehigh (0-2)
2B – La Salle: Brian Oakes, Anthony Boscaglia 2
HR – Lehigh: Jesse Novalis (1), Jeff Baker (1)
LOB – Lehigh 10, La Salle 9
For more information, contact Jeff Tourial, Lehigh Sports Media Relations.
Posted March 18, 2003.
