Lehigh University Athletics
Novalis sets record as Lehigh out-slugs UMES
9/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Princess Anne, MD – Junior third baseman Jesse Novalis hit two long home runs and drove in five as the Mountain Hawks pounded out a 22-12 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore in game one of a doubleheader. Game two was not played due to darkness. With the home runs – his sixth and seventh of the season – Novalis becomes Lehigh’s all-time leader in career long balls with 21.
With Eric Hoffman at first and one away in the top of the first, Novalis ripped a pitch over the wall in left field to give Lehigh an early 2-0 lead. The blast pushed Novalis past Jeff Onorato ’85 atop the career home run list.
After UMES tied the game in the bottom of the inning, the Mountain Hawks blew the contest open in the top of the second inning, scoring six times. After second baseman John Zaszewski doubled in a run, Novalis connected on his second two-run homer of the afternoon – this one to left-center. Designated hitter Brian Cameron later doubled home a pair of runs to give Lehigh a seemingly-comfortable 8-2 advantage.
The Mountain Hawks added three more runs in the third – thanks in part to a solo homer from Zaszewski, three runs in the fourth, and two in the fifth to take a 16-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning.
However, with the ten-run mercy rule hovering overhead, the Hawks made a push of their own. UMES took advantage of two Lehigh errors, two hit batters, a wild pitch, and a passed ball to score ten runs in the inning. Amazingly, the Hawks sent 13 batters to the plate in the frame and scored nine unearned runs off Lehigh’s Karl Weimer, who picked up the win.
The Mountain Hawks’ offense answered in the next two innings, as Lehigh scored three times in both the sixth and seventh to secure the victory. All in all, Lehigh scored at least two runs in every inning, and walloped a season-high 20 hits in the win. Other season highs set by the team on the afternoon include three homers, ten offensive walks, 22 runs scored, and four stolen bases.
Lehigh’s offense was led by Novalis, who went 3-for-6 with five RBIs and four runs scored. Zaszewski, a freshman, was 3-for-4 with two runs driven in and three runs scored. Shortstop Eric Hoffman had two hits and 3 RBIs, and first baseman Forrest Doane was 2-for-2 off the bench with four runs batted in. Left fielder Dan Russell collected two hits and scored twice.
Greg Cathel went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in a losing effort for UMES (1-22), and Robert Benak drove in three runs.
Lehigh (14-17) returns to action on Saturday, when the Mountain Hawks begin a critical four-game Patriot League series at Holy Cross. First pitch in Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled for noon from Worcester, Mass.
Scoring
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
Lehigh | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 20 | 4 |
UMES | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 11 | 4 |
WP – Karl Weimer, Lehigh (1-2)
LP – Ryan Hunter, UMES (0-1)
2B – Lehigh: John Zaszewski, Dan Russell, Forrest Doane; UMES: Robert Benak
HR – Lehigh: Jesse Novalis, 2 (7), John Zaszewski (2)
LOB – Lehigh 13, UMES 8
For more information, contact Jeff Tourial, Lehigh Sports Media Relations.
Posted April 17, 2003.
