La Salle rallies for 6-5 win over Lehigh

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team fell 6-5 at La Salle Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic at Hank DeVincent field. The Explorers trailed 5-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but rallied to claim the win and improve to 6-18 overall while the Mountain Hawks fall to 11-11.

Junior Justin Pacchioli had a 3-for-4 showing at the plate, while classmate John Elson drove home two runs. Sophomore Mike Garzillo and senior Joe Abeln also recorded RBI for Lehigh. Senior starting pitcher Joey McNamara threw a strong game, allowing just one run on five hits in 5.1 innings of work.

McNamara was dominant from the start, allowing just four hits through his first five innings. The Explorers used a different pitcher in each of the first five innings. With Tom Fazzini on the mound for La Salle in the top of the fifth, freshman Connor Donovan drew a leadoff walk before Pacchioli put down a bunt that confused the Explorers infielders as he was able to reach first and advance Donovan to second. Garzillo followed with a single to right center to score Donovan and give Lehigh a 1-0 lead.

Following a double off the left field fence from La Salle's Mark Williams in the bottom of the sixth inning, junior Nick Macaione was brought on to relieve McNamara. Justin Korenblatt found a gap in right center as he drove home Williams and rolled into second to tie the game at one. Macaione followed with a strikeout and flyout to end the inning.
Freshman Jacen Nalesnik led off the top of the seventh with a single through the left side before Donovan drew his second-straight walk and La Salle's Adam Cherry was brought on to pitch. Pacchioli drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Two batters later, Abeln drew a walk to bring home pinch runner Patrick Donnelly and give the Mountain Hawks a 2-1 lead. Senior Tyler Brong smacked a grounder through the hole between shortstop and third base, advancing all runners and scoring Wilt. Elson followed with a two-run single through the left side as the Mountain Hawks took a 5-1 lead.

Freshman David Young took the mound in the bottom half of the seventh. The Explorers put a runner on following a leadoff double but Young retired the next three batters to keep Lehigh out of trouble. The Explorers added a run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single through the left side off the bat of Josh Savakinus.

Young remained on the mound heading into the bottom of the ninth, but junior Jordan Smith came in attempting to close it out with runners on first and second with one out. A two-run single to center field from George Smith pulled the Explorers within one before freshman Matt Kozemchak took the mound. A passed ball tied the contest at five before a walkoff single to center from Kornenblatt sealed the 6-5 La Salle win.

Smith suffered the loss, while La Salle's Shawn O'Neill claimed the win. The Explorers used ten pitchers in the contest.

The Mountain Hawks will head to Bucknell this weekend for a four-game Patriot League series. Doubleheaders will begin at 12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.

Next Event

Team Stats

Justin Pacchioli

Mike Garzillo

Joe Abeln

Tyler Brong

Lehigh University Athletics

Completed Event: Baseball at #1 Holy Cross on May 11, 2025 , Loss , 9, to, 19

Completed Event: Baseball at #1 Holy Cross on May 11, 2025 , Win , 7, to, 2

Completed Event: Baseball at #1 Holy Cross on May 10, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 10

Completed Event: Baseball at Holy Cross on May 4, 2025 , Loss , 5, to, 17 , (8 inn.)

Completed Event: Baseball at Holy Cross on May 4, 2025 , Win , 10, to, 4

Completed Event: Baseball at Holy Cross on May 3, 2025 , Loss , 7, to, 24 , (7 inn.)

Completed Event: Baseball at Saint Peter's University on April 30, 2025 , Loss , 5, to, 8