Lehigh University
Holy Cross
Lehigh locks up the two seed with split vs. HC
5/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Behind a complete team effort, the Lehigh baseball team defeated Holy Cross 5-2 in game one of the doubleheader on Saturday to secure the No. 2 seed in the Patriot League Tournament. The Mountain Hawks got a quality start from junior Mike Lebo and used some power hitting to win their third game of the series. The Crusaders were able to avoid the sweep in the series finale with a 14-6 win. Lehigh, who is returning to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2006, closes out the regular season with a 22-25 (12-8) overall record, while Holy Cross finishes at 23-22 (10-10).
“I’m so proud of the way the team competed in game one,” head coach Sean Leary said. “Securing the No. 2 seed in the tournament is a great accomplishment and it took a complete team effort today. We got some clutch hitting and some outstanding pitching from Lebo and (Cory) Kent.”
For the third straight game Holy Cross was able to get on the board first, as it took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. With two runners on, Eric Oxford singled to right field to bring in Jack Laurendeau.
After a scoreless second inning, Lehigh got its offense going in the bottom of the third by showing its power. Juniors Chad Warga and Billy Goldman were able to reach base off walks and their classmate Jim McConlogue hit a three-run homer to deep left field to bring the score to 3-1.
The Crusaders were able to make it a one-run game in the fifth, but the Mountain Hawks added two final insurance runs in the sixth. Junior Andrew Russell led off the inning with a solo home run to right field and the next two batters singled. With two runners on, junior Brendan Pifer made the score 5-2 with a RBI single up the middle.
Kent came into close out the game in the bottom of the seventh inning and he was able to sit Holy Cross down in order to end the game.
Lebo (4-3) pitched six innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs to pick up the win. Kent added to what already was a Lehigh single-season record in saves with his eighth. The Mountain Hawks finished with seven hits, as Pifer and Russell led the way with two apiece.
In game two, Holy Cross jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, as it was led by Nick Ciardiello who hit his first of two home runs.
The Brown and White made it a one-run game with three runs in the bottom of the third and it took the lead in the fourth. After Lehigh loaded the bases, McConlogue continued his big day at the plate with a two-run single to left field to make the score 5-4.
Holy Cross didn’t waste any time as it took back the lead in the top of the fifth and it would go onto score at least one run in the final four remaining innings.
Senior Jordan Warncke (0-2) took the loss in game two as he pitched three innings, scattering six hits and giving up two earned runs.
With the No. 2 seed already clinched it gave Leary the opportunity to get a lot of different players in the game. “Game two was a great opportunity for our senior pitchers and the rest of our guys to get in some extra work before the tournament.”
Lehigh had 13 hits in game two, as McConlogue and Russell finished with a team-high three. Sophomore Ryan Gajdos was the only other Mountain Hawk with more than one hit (two).
The Mountain Hawks will welcome back Holy Cross to the Goodman Campus on May 15-16 for the semifinal round of the Patriot League Tournament. Check back to Lehighsports.com to find out the complete schedule of the tournament.
