Sunday, April 20
Annapolis, Md.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
1
at
2
Navy
Bats stifled in two Sunday losses at Navy
4/20/2014 5:34:00 PM | Baseball
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – For the second-straight day, Navy used a walk-off single to down the Lehigh baseball team in the opening game of a doubleheader, 2-1, before the Mids' strong pitching continued to frustrate the Mountain Hawks as Navy completed the series sweep with a 4-1 win in the nightcap. The Mountain Hawks fall to 7-8 in the Patriot League and 18-19 overall, while Navy moved back to .500 (22-22, 8-8 PL) with the wins.
Despite the losses, Lehigh sits in fourth place in the Patriot League standings and remains in contention for a spot in the Patriot League Tournament. The Mountain Hawks will be in control of their own destiny when Lafayette visits the Goodman Campus Baseball Field next weekend as Lehigh sits at 7-8 with a three-game lead on Lafayette (4-10) and four-game lead on Holy Cross (3-11).
Junior Tim McKay went 2-for-5 at the plate in the two games combined, while sophomore Mike Garzillo and freshman Patrick Donnelly recorded Lehigh's two RBI.
Sophomore starter Kevin Long kept the Mids hitless through the first two innings of the day's first game, a seven-inning affair. McKay blooped a one-out single into center to start the third inning before classmate Justin Pacchioli followed with a single to center as well. Garzillo roped a double down the left field line to score McKay as the Mountain Hawks took a 1-0 lead.
The Mids got their first hit of the game in the bottom of the third off the bat of Robert Currie, but Long sat down the rest of the Navy batters and continued his dominance through the fifth inning. Navy tied the game in the sixth as Kash Manzelli grounded into a double play but brought home Patrick Brady in the process.
Navy's Luke Gillingham completed his complete game by allowing just one hit in Lehigh's final at-bat before the game was sent into the bottom half of the seventh still knotted at one. Drew Hayes drew a leadoff walk as senior Nick Cassell was brought on to pitch. Three batters later, Leland Salie sent a single up the middle to score Hayes as Navy captured the 2-1 walk-off win.
Long suffered the loss despite allowing just two hits in six innings. Gillingham claimed the win with a line of one run on five hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings.
The Mountain Hawks took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning of the series finale, a nine-inning contest, as junior John Elson roped a leadoff single to left. A throwing error by Navy's shortstop allowed senior Tyler Brong to reach first while Elson moved to third before a sacrifice fly from Donnelly plated the Mountain Hawks' only run of the contest.
Junior starter Nick Stephens was strong through the first two innings, allowing just one Navy hit, but the Mids used a four-run third inning to take the lead. RBI from Brandon Beans, Bran Borosak, Salie and Manzelli gave Navy a 4-1 lead that it would hold onto for the remainder of the game.
Senior Joey McNamara, freshman Matt Kozemchak and junior Nick Macaione combined to throw 5.1 scoreless innings, but Navy starter Kyle Condrey went the distance as the Mountain Hawks weren't able to get the offense going.
Stephens suffered the loss after allowing Navy's four runs on five hits in 2.2 innings. Condrey finished with a line of one run on five hits in a complete nine innings.
Lehigh heads to Coppin State Tuesday before hosting Seton Hall Wednesday in midweek action. The Mountain Hawks face off against archrival Lafayette next weekend on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field for the final regular-season Patriot League series.
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Baseball vs. Coppin State
Tuesday, April 29
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Wednesday, March 19
Baseball vs. UAlbany
Sunday, March 16
Season Preview Baseball
Thursday, February 13
