Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh rallies once, but not twice in spilt
9/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Worcester, MA – Lehigh center fielder Jeremy Mack drove in four runs – including the game winning double as the Mountain Hawks rallied from a six-run deficit to top Holy Cross in eight innings by an 11-8 score in game one of a doubleheader at Fitton Field on Sunday afternoon. The Crusaders scored 11 times in the second inning to cruise to a 14-5 win in game two. Following the day’s split, Lehigh stands at 16-19 overall and 6-9 in Patriot League play. The Crusaders are 10-19 overall and 6-10 in league contests.
The Crusaders scored six times (all unearned) off Lehigh starter Jack Lyons in the second inning of the opener to take a 6-0 lead. Lehigh responded with three in the third, thanks in part to an RBI double from third baseman Jesse Novalis. Jeremy Mack then singled to right, plating a run, and an infield hit from Jeff Quiros scored Novalis, cutting the Holy Cross lead to 6-3.
In the top of the fifth, Mack singled home his second run of the afternoon, trimming the Crusaders’ advantage to 6-4. Lehigh surged ahead for the first time in the sixth, as Novalis doubled in two runs and scored on a throwing error on the play. The Mountain Hawks scored four times in the sixth to take an 8-6 lead.
Holy Cross tied the game up in its final at-bat. A two-run single from Matt McEvoy tied the game at 8-8, and sent the contest to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Mack gave Lehigh the lead for good as he doubled to left-center, plating two runs. Mack scored later in the frame to give the Mountain Hawks the 11-8 advantage. Kyle Collina (1-0) pitched two shutout innings to pick up the win.
In addition to Mack’s 3-for-5 effort, Eric Hoffman belted two hits and scored four times in the win. Jesse Novalis was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and three driven in. Matt Yarnold, returning from a broken arm, went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored twice.
In game two, the Mountain Hawks built a quick two-nothing lead with single runs in the top of the first and second. However, the Lehigh lead was short-lived, as the Crusaders scored 11 times on eight hits and two Lehigh miscues in the bottom of the second to take a commanding 11-2 advantage. The Mountain Hawks plated single runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh, but it wasn’t enough as the Crusaders went on to the nine-run victory.
Second baseman John Zaszewski and Novalis each homered for Lehigh in a losing effort. Sophomore Kyle Stawicki was saddled with the loss.
Over the two games, the Mountain Hawks stranded 15 runners on base.
Lehigh returns home to host Penn in non-league action at Goodman Field on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30.
Game One
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E |
Lehigh | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 3 |
Holy Cross | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 4 |
WP – Kyle Collina, Lehigh (1-0)
LP – Nick Hanges, Holy Cross (0-1)
2B – Lehigh: Jesse Novalis 2, Jeremy Mack; Holy Cross: Mike Schell
LOB – Lehigh 8, Holy Cross 8
Game Two
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
Lehigh | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
Holy Cross | 0 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 14 | 15 | 0 |
WP – Jim McCloud, Holy Cross (2-2)
LP – Kyle Stawicki, Lehigh (1-3)
2B – Lehigh: Eric Hoffman; Holy Cross: Mike Schell, Drew Bigda, Peter Pasciucco, Dan Powers
HR – Lehigh: John Zaszewski (3), Jesse Novalis (9)
LOB – Lehigh 7, Holy Cross 9
For more information, contact Jeff Tourial, Lehigh Sports Media Relations.
Posted April 20, 2003
