Lehigh University
Saint Joseph's University
Lehigh's offense slumps against Saint Joseph's
3/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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CAMDEN, N.J. – The Mountain Hawks offense got going a little too late as Lehigh fell to Saint Joseph’s 6-2 Wednesday afternoon at Campbell’s Field. Lehigh scored its only two runs of the game in the ninth inning as the Hawks pitching staff only gave up three hits all game. The Brown and White falls to 2-8 on the season, while Saint Joseph’s improves its record to 2-8.
“We didn’t have a good offensive approach today,” head coach Sean Leary said. “We didn’t give ourselves the opportunities to score. Saint Joseph’s was able to take advantage of the opportunities it got in the sixth and seventh innings.”
It was a pitching battle early in the game as neither team could get their offense going. Senior Greg Angelo started the game for the Brown and White and threw two scoreless innings. He was followed by sophomore Cory Kent who also pitched two scoreless innings. The Mountain Hawks planned on using several pitchers throughout the game because of their four-game series with Binghamton this weekend.
“Greg, Cory and (Dan) Ciccone all threw well, but we did struggle a little bit,” Leary said. “We gave them a chance to put some runs on the board and they took advantage of it.”
Senior Rob Russell entered the game in the bottom of the fifth and after a perfect inning, the Hawks were finally able to break through. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Saint Joseph’s loaded the bases and senior David Valesente delivered with a two-run single. Sophomore Kevin Taylor capped off the inning with a RBI single.
The Hawks kept their offense going in the seventh as they added three more runs and their pitching was still putting the clamps down on Lehigh’s bats.
Heading into the ninth, Lehigh had only one hit until freshman Brandon Sady singled to get things going for the Brown and White. After junior Brendan McGaheran walked, his classmate Andrew Russell was finally able to break through the Saint Joseph’s pitching, as he tripled to knock in both runs. The Hawks were able to get the final out and close out the game for the victory.
The Mountain Hawks will open up their 2010 home schedule on Saturday in a doubleheader against the Binghamton Bearcats beginning at noon.
