Lehigh University Athletics
Lafayette rallies past Lehigh in league opener
9/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Easton, PA – Lehigh scored three runs in the top of the first, but was unable to hang on as Lafayette rallied for a 6-3 win at Metzgar Field in the Patriot League opener for both schools. The setback – Lehigh’s third straight – drops the Mountain Hawks to 8-10 overall (0-1 Patriot League) while the Leopards improve to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in league play. Saturday’s scheduled second game of the doubleheader was rained out.
Lehigh scored three times in the top of the first to run out to a quick three-run lead. In his first game back from injury, shortstop Eric Hoffman was hit by a pitch and then scored on a John Zaszewski homer to center field to give the Mountain Hawks a two-run lead. Two batters later, senior captain Jeremy Mack hit a solo blast to left center to increase the Lehigh lead to three.
Unfortunately for the Mountain Hawks, that was all the offense they could muster off Lafayette starter James Duer, who struck out nine in a complete game win.
The Leopards got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second off Lehigh starter Jack Muscalus, snapping his string of over 26 consecutive innings pitched without allowing an earned run. Lehigh still maintained a 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the fourth, when Craig Alexander hit a solo homer to trim the lead to one, at 3-2.
Two doubles in the bottom of the fifth for Lafayette tied the game at 3 apiece. With Adam Rosenberg at second base, it was Alexander again – this time with a single up the middle to give the Leopards their first lead of the contest at 4-3. Lafayette added two more in the sixth off Muscalus to go on to the 6-3 victory, snapping Lehigh’s five-game winning streak in the series.
Lehigh managed only four hits all afternoon in the wind-driven rain. In addition to the two homers, Zaszewski also doubled en route to a 2-for-3 performance in the batters box. Catcher Jeff Quiros had the only other hit of the game for Lehigh.
The Mountain Hawks and Leopards are scheduled to resume the series with a doubleheader on Sunday at Metzgar Field at noon. However, with rain and snow in the forecast, adjustments may be made. Be sure to check the Lehigh Sports Hotline at (610) 7LU-LULU for the latest information.
Scoring
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
Lehigh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
Lafayette | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | X | 6 | 10 | 0 |
WP – James Duer, Lafayette (1-1)
LP – Jack Muscalus, Lehigh (3-1)
2B – Lehigh: John Zaszewski; Lafayette: Adam Rosenberg, Russ Giglio 2
3B – Lafayette: Jeff Rodgers
HR – Lehigh: John Zaszewski (1), Jeremy Mack (1)
LOB – Lehigh 6, Lafayette 5
For more information, contact Jeff Tourial, Lehigh Sports Media Relations.
Posted March 29, 2003.
