Wednesday, February 27
Princess Anne, Md.
12:00:00 PM
Lehigh University
13
at
2
UMES
Bats come up big as Mountain Hawks take two from UMES
2/27/2013 10:14:00 PM | Baseball
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Lehigh baseball team scored 21 runs and pounded out 29 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Maryland Eastern-Shore Wednesday at Hawks Stadium. The Mountain Hawks rolled to a 13-2 win in the opener and rallied from a 4-0 deficit to take the nightcap by an 8-4 score as Lehigh improves to 3-2 on the season.
Sophomore Justin Pacchioli went 5-for-10 out of the leadoff spot with five runs batted in in the two games, while senior Casey Turner went 3-for-5 with four RBI in the opener.
In game one, a nine-inning affair, Lehigh recorded 16 hits, while taking advantage of a UMES defense that committed 12 errors.
The Mountain Hawks took control early, playing six runs in the top of the second inning. The first two runs came on a pair of Hawk errors following a bunt single by freshman Mike Garzillo. RBI singles by junior Brandon Wilt and Pacchioli extended Lehigh's lead before Turner capped the frame with a two run single through the left side.
Leading 8-1 after four innings, Lehigh tacked on three more runs in the fifth on a RBI single by sophomore John Elson, a double by Turner and an error which allowed Elson to score.
UMES plated an unearned run in the sixth but Lehigh added two runs in the eighth as sophomore Connor Faust and Turner drove in runs.
Junior Colin Gotzon gave Lehigh five sharp innings on the mound to record his first win of the season (1-1). Gotzon allowed a run on two hits, walking two and striking out three before three relievers combined to allow one unearned run on four hits in the final four innings.
Game two, a seven-inning contest, saw Lehigh fall behind early as freshman Kevin Long gave up three first inning runs in his first career start.
The Hawks extended their lead in the fourth on a sacrifice fly Mike Escanilla before Lehigh tied the game with four runs in the fifth and took the lead with four more in the sixth.
In the fifth, Lehigh put together a string of five singles to plate four two-out runs. The Mountain Hawks loaded the bases with two out and Pacchioli's infield single to second base brought home Faust. Elson followed with a single to center which plated three runs, including Pacchioli hustling around from first with the tying run.
Lehigh loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth and Garzillo put the Mountain Hawks ahead with a two-run double down the left field line. Three batters later, Pacchioli tripled home two more runs before he was thrown out between third base and home plate to end the inning.
Junior JR Edwards came on with game tied in the bottom of the fifth and fired three scoreless innings to earn the victory on the mound. Edwards allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one. Sophomore Nick Stephens preceded Edwards with three innings of one-run relief.
The Mountain Hawks will next head to the Bronx, N.Y. for four games this weekend as Lehigh will play Fordham and Iona at Fordham's Houlihan Park. On Saturday, Lehigh will play Fordham at noon and Iona at 3 p.m., while on Sunday the Mountain Hawks will face the Gaels at noon and the Rams at 3 p.m.
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