Saturday, April 12
Goodman Campus
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
14-14, 0
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Holy Cross
10-20, 0
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7
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Holy Cross
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Lehigh
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6
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Lehigh posts pair of shutout victories in Saturday sweep of Holy Cross
4/12/2014 5:54:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team completed a doubleheader sweep of Holy Cross Saturday on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field as the Mountain Hawk pitchers kept the Crusaders scoreless for all 16 innings of play. Lehigh picked up its first single-day sweep of Holy Cross since May 1, 2010 as the Mountain Hawks improve to 5-4 in Patriot League play and 15-14 overall. The Crusaders fall to 10-21 overall and 3-5 in league play.
Senior Colin Gotzon threw a three-hitter to lead Lehigh to a 1-0 win in the opener, while in the nightcap seniors Mike Burke and Nick Cassell combined on a four-hitter in a 3-0 Mountain Hawk victory.
"We wanted to go with two senior pitchers on day one because we believed in how hard they've worked and what they've put into the program," said head coach Sean Leary. "They were outstanding. Two shutouts on a league weekend are just gritty and tough and the senior leadership was on full display today."
"Their performances give us the opportunity to have some fresh arms tomorrow," continued Leary. "They gave us an opportunity to compete with a deep bullpen tomorrow, which is awesome."
Gotzon and Burke combined to throw 13.2 scoreless innings while Cassell recorded his fourth save of the season as he wrapped up the final 2.1 innings of the day's second game. The strong legion of Lehigh arms struck out 16 Holy Cross batters in the two games.
"Our whole infield was outstanding today, including Tim McKay," said Leary. "They turned two critical double plays and we were aggressive on all of the plays. We played the way we wanted to play and our pitching and defense were certainly the story of the day."
Junior John Elson led the way offensively with two RBI and a 3-for-7 showing at the plate in the two games combined. Classmate Justin Pacchioli batted in the opening game's only run, while McKay also recorded an RBI in the second game.
McKay blooped a single to shallow right field to lead off the bottom of the third in the day's opening game before a sacrifice bunt from senior Brandon Wilt and a wild pitch allowed McKay to advance to third. Junior Justin Pacchioli stepped up to rip a single through the left side that scored McKay, giving Lehigh a 1-0 lead at the end of the inning.
Gotzon was firing through the first four innings as the starting pitcher fanned five while allowing just one Crusader hit. The senior continued to cruise until the Crusaders loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Gotzon forced Connor Perry to ground into a double play as Elson, sophomore Mike Garzillo and junior Connor Faust completed the successful play to end the inning and keep the Mountain Hawks in front 1-0.
Holy Cross put a runner on second with one out in the top of the seventh but Gotzon sat down the next two batters to complete his three-hit shutout victory. He finished with seven strikeouts and just two walks in the full seven-inning contest.
Holy Cross starter Ben White suffered the loss after allowing the lone run of the game in addition to six hits and two walks in 4.2 innings.
Garzillo got the Lehigh bats going in the day's second game, a nine-inning affair, with a double to left-center field in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Joe Abeln was hit by a pitch before he and Garzillo executed a double steal to put runners on second and third with two outs. Elson smacked a double to left to score the two runners as the Mountain Hawks quickly jumped on top, 2-0, at the end of the first inning.
Burke continued where Gotzon left off on the mound, as the senior continuously worked his way out of critical jams to keep the Crusaders scoreless through his 6.2 innings of work. Lehigh was able to add an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth as Elson roped a leadoff single through the left side. Faust was hit by a pitch before a sacrifice bunt from freshman Patrick Donnelly advanced the two runners to second and third. McKay put down a bunt while Elson sprinted home as the Mountain Hawks executed the successful squeeze play to take a 3-0 lead.
Burke's outing came to a close in the seventh as Cassell inherited a two-on, two-out situation. Cassell caught Evan Ocello looking as the strikeout ended the inning. The senior followed with two innings of hitless ball as the Mountain Hawks were able to hold onto the 3-0 win.
Burke earned the win, while Cassell picked up his fourth save of the season. The two combined to fan nine Crusaders. Holy Cross starting pitcher Phil Reese suffered the loss after allowing two runs on four hits in five innings of work.
Lehigh stole five bases in its five attempts during the day's second game, led by Wilt with two.
Lehigh and Holy Cross wrap up their four-game series Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field. A free audio broadcast of both games will be available via Lehighsports.com.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gotzon, Colin (3-1)
L: Ben White (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Nick Lovullo 1 ; Andrew Barry 1
SH: Brandon Cipolla 1 ; Jack St.Clair 1
Base Running:
HBP: Jack St.Clair 1
Batting:
2B: Brong, Tyler 1
RBI: Pacchioli, Justin 1
SH: Wilt, Brandon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McKay, Tim 1
SB: Pacchioli, Justin 2 ; Wilt, Brandon 1
CS: Elson, John 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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