
Lehigh to open Patriot League play at Army this weekend
3/28/2014 1:01:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team will begin its quest towards a league championship this weekend as the Mountain Hawks begin Patriot League play at two-time defending champion Army Saturday and Sunday. Doubleheaders will be played on both days, with action beginning at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday from Army's Doubleday Field. As with all league games, the first contest of the doubleheader with be seven innings, while the second will be a full nine-inning affair.
The teams split the series last season on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field. Army claimed the first and the third games of the series, 1-0 and 3-1, while the Mountain Hawks picked up 4-3 and 19-10 wins.
Lehigh (9-9) will head to West Point looking to rebound from a tough 10-7 midweek loss to Iona Thursday that snapped the Mountain Hawks' four-game winning streak. Lehigh battled back from a 5-1 deficit with a six-run fourth inning, but couldn't hold on as Iona claimed its third win of the season. Senior Tyler Brong led Lehigh offensively with two hits in his two at-bats, a pair of runs scored and walks and an RBI. Junior Patrick Walshe and sophomore Mike Garzillo each drove in two runs for the Mountain Hawks. Six Lehigh freshmen saw action during the contest.
Junior Tim McKay leads the Mountain Hawks offensively with a .410 batting average, followed by senior Joe Abeln's .354 mark. A total of six Mountain Hawks are hitting above .300 as Lehigh averages a league-leading .297 as a team. Six Lehigh players have batted in double-digit runs, led by Garzillo with 14.
On the mound, sophomore Kevin Long leads the Mountain Hawks with a 1.96 ERA and 3-1 record. Long has appeared in eight games, while making two starts, and proved to be a reliable arm out of the bullpen. Seniors Mike Burke (3.22 ERA) and Colin Gotzon (4.50) and junior Nick Stephens (4.33) have combined to start 13 of Lehigh's 18 games. Senior Nick Cassell leads the squad with three saves and holds a 4.15 ERA.
Army's 14-7 overall record leads the Patriot League heading into this weekend's contests. The Black Knights dropped a 4-0 decision to Columbia Thursday after finishing their spring break trip with a 7-1 record. The Army bats could only come up with four hits in the shutout loss.
The Black Knights are hitting .273 as a team, led by freshman Kris Lindner's .387 batting average. Senior Patrick Meschner has driven in a team-best 18 RBI, while classmate Jon Crucitti has scored a team-leading 21 runs. On the mound, Gunnar Carroll (1.85 ERA), Nick Dignacco (2.29) and Alex Robinett (2.33) have combined to start 17 of Army's 21 games and accumulate a 9-3 record this season.
Following this weekend's series, the Mountain Hawks will head to La Salle Tuesday for the opening round of the Liberty Bell Classic before traveling to Bucknell Saturday and Sunday to continue league play.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
The teams split the series last season on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field. Army claimed the first and the third games of the series, 1-0 and 3-1, while the Mountain Hawks picked up 4-3 and 19-10 wins.
Lehigh (9-9) will head to West Point looking to rebound from a tough 10-7 midweek loss to Iona Thursday that snapped the Mountain Hawks' four-game winning streak. Lehigh battled back from a 5-1 deficit with a six-run fourth inning, but couldn't hold on as Iona claimed its third win of the season. Senior Tyler Brong led Lehigh offensively with two hits in his two at-bats, a pair of runs scored and walks and an RBI. Junior Patrick Walshe and sophomore Mike Garzillo each drove in two runs for the Mountain Hawks. Six Lehigh freshmen saw action during the contest.
Junior Tim McKay leads the Mountain Hawks offensively with a .410 batting average, followed by senior Joe Abeln's .354 mark. A total of six Mountain Hawks are hitting above .300 as Lehigh averages a league-leading .297 as a team. Six Lehigh players have batted in double-digit runs, led by Garzillo with 14.
On the mound, sophomore Kevin Long leads the Mountain Hawks with a 1.96 ERA and 3-1 record. Long has appeared in eight games, while making two starts, and proved to be a reliable arm out of the bullpen. Seniors Mike Burke (3.22 ERA) and Colin Gotzon (4.50) and junior Nick Stephens (4.33) have combined to start 13 of Lehigh's 18 games. Senior Nick Cassell leads the squad with three saves and holds a 4.15 ERA.
Army's 14-7 overall record leads the Patriot League heading into this weekend's contests. The Black Knights dropped a 4-0 decision to Columbia Thursday after finishing their spring break trip with a 7-1 record. The Army bats could only come up with four hits in the shutout loss.
The Black Knights are hitting .273 as a team, led by freshman Kris Lindner's .387 batting average. Senior Patrick Meschner has driven in a team-best 18 RBI, while classmate Jon Crucitti has scored a team-leading 21 runs. On the mound, Gunnar Carroll (1.85 ERA), Nick Dignacco (2.29) and Alex Robinett (2.33) have combined to start 17 of Army's 21 games and accumulate a 9-3 record this season.
Following this weekend's series, the Mountain Hawks will head to La Salle Tuesday for the opening round of the Liberty Bell Classic before traveling to Bucknell Saturday and Sunday to continue league play.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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