Sunday, April 15
Lewisburg, Pa.
12:00:00 PM
Lehigh University
0
at
6
Bucknell
Lehigh drops pair of games at Bucknell Sunday
4/15/2012 11:07:00 PM | Baseball
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Lehigh baseball team (14-26-1, 3-9 PL) dropped a pair of games at Bucknell (19-19, 6-6 PL) Sunday, as the Mountain Hawks dropped three of four over the weekend to the Bison. Lehigh fell 6-0 in game one before a back-and-forth game two. Down to its last out, Lehigh managed to tie the game thanks to a two-run single by senior Ryan Gajdos, but Lehigh lost 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth.
The Mountain Hawks produced 10 hits in game two, with four players having multi-hit games. Senior Brendan McGaheran, Gajdos, sophomore Joe Abeln and senior Chad Warga each had two hits while McGaheran (2), Gajdos (3) and Abeln (1) combined for all six of Lehigh's RBIs.
Lehigh led in the game 3-1 and 4-3 before Bucknell took a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth. But the Mountain Hawks showed no quit, coming back in their final at-bat. Sophomore Tyler Brong led off with a walk and freshman Josh Flyer came in to pinch run. After a fly out, Warga singled and freshman Lance Kirschenbaum came in to run for him. After a strikeout, the Mountain Hawks were down to their final out. McGaheran worked a walk to load the bases and Gajdos came up with the clutch two-run single through the right side to tie the game 6-6. Despite the great comeback, Lehigh fell in the bottom of the ninth as Bucknell was able to drive in a two-out run. Dan Ciccone (0-3) suffered the loss while Alex Cillo (3-0) earned the win.
After Bucknell scored in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead, Lehigh scored three runs in the top of the third for its first lead of the day. Freshman John Elson and Warga hit consecutive singles to start the inning. Sophomore Brandon Wilt moved them over with a SAC bunt as McGaheran followed with a two-run double. After a fly out, Abeln came up with the two-out RBI single.
The Bison responded in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs to tie the game on a RBI triple and a SAC fly.
After a scoreless fourth, Lehigh regained the lead in the top of the fifth. After a pair of groundouts, McGaheran doubled to left field and Gajdos drove him in with a double to left center.
For the second time, Bucknell came back, this time scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning as Lehigh suddenly trailed 6-4. After a pair of singles and a fielder's choice, the Bison scored a pair of runs on a triple and then on a RBI SAC fly.
After three consecutive innings without a run from either team, Lehigh put together a rally to tie the game in the ninth.
Bucknell was paced offensively by David Duffett who was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored while Rob Krentzman was 2-for-3 with three RBIs including the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the ninth.
Prior to Lehigh's tough loss in game two, Lehigh fell behind early in game one and was unable to get anything going offensively.
Bucknell got on the board in the bottom of the first on a RBI single. In the bottom of the second, the Bison earned a pair of walks to start the inning and after a SAC bunt advanced both runners over, they scored on a two-run single.
Lehigh produced its first hit in the top of the third as sophomore Brandon Wilt singled to centerfield. After a pair of fly outs, Abeln walked to bring the tying run to the plate in senior Joe Conaway, but the Mountain Hawks were unable to take advantage.
Bucknell extended its lead to 5-0 after the third inning as the Bison tacked on two runs after a leadoff home run and a two-out RBI single. In the bottom of the sixth, Bucknell tacked on another two-out run on a RBI single.
Lehigh's second hit of the game came in the top of the seventh when McGaheran lined a two-out single up the middle.
Sophomore Colin Gotzon (1-4) suffered the loss, throwing 1.1 IP, allowing three runs on two hits and walking three. Sophomore Mike Burke was solid in relief, throwing the game's final three innings, allowing just one run on four hits.
Ryan Ebner (3-5) earned the win, throwing a complete-game two-hitter while walking three and striking out two. Bucknell had nine hits in the game, with three coming off the bat of Travis Clark. Matt Lamore was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Lehigh will look to rebound with a pair of midweek games, hosting Coppin State Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. before traveling to take on Penn Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Baseball vs. Coppin State
Tuesday, April 29
Baseball vs. Penn
Wednesday, March 19
Baseball vs. UAlbany
Sunday, March 16
Season Preview Baseball
Thursday, February 13
