Lehigh University
Butler
Lehigh drops its first game in Florida
3/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Lehigh baseball team came up one run short as it lost to Butler 9-8 in its first game at the RussMatt Invitational in Davenport Fla., on Sunday. The Mountain Hawks were able to jump out to an early 4-0 lead, but the Bulldogs rallied and held on for the victory. With the loss the Brown and White drop to 1-4 on the season, while Butler improves to 2-4.
“We did a nice job of jumping out to a big lead early, but we couldn’t hold the lead with our pitching or defense,” head coach Sean Leary said.
Lehigh built a 4-0 lead in the first inning off big hitting from juniors Andy Russell, Kevin Mihalik and Jim McConlouge. Mihalik led the way as he had a two-run single that knocked in Russell and junior Billy Goldman.
Butler responded with three runs in the next two innings, but Lehigh was able to respond with two of its own. In the bottom of the third, junior Logan Winchester doubled in his classmate Sean Killeen to make the score 5-3. Junior Brendan McGaheran scored on an error by the pitcher in the bottom of the fourth to give the Brown and White a 6-3 lead.
The Bulldogs tied the game over the next two innings, but Lehigh was able to regain its lead in the bottom of the seventh. Killeen blasted a triple and McConlouge doubled him in to give the Mountain Hawks the 7-6 lead.
Sophomore Dan Ciccone (0-1) couldn’t hold the lead as he allowed two runs in the top of the eighth to take the loss. Freshman Billy Laing picked up the win for Butler.
Mihalik, McConlouge and Winchester each had two RBIs to pace Lehigh’s offense.
“We came out of today’s game with a positive mindset,” Leary said. “We played well enough offensively to get the win, but will have come back out tomorrow morning and start over.”
Lehigh gets right back into action Monday morning at 10 a.m. vs. St. Bonaventure. The Mountain Hawks will play a second game at 1:30 p.m. vs. Fairfield.
Lehigh Baseball Spring Break Preview
