Tuesday, April 22
Baltimore, Md.
3:00 PM
Lehigh University
4
at
3
Coppin State
Mountain Hawks pick up 4-3 extra-inning win at Coppin State
4/22/2014 6:44:00 PM | Baseball
HANOVER, Md. – Coppin State got out to a quick 3-0 lead, but the Lehigh baseball team rallied to tie the game at three in the top of the ninth before an RBI from sophomore Mike Garzillo scored classmate Mackey Price in the tenth inning as Lehigh picked up a 4-3 win Wednesday afternoon. Strong pitching from freshman Connor Donovan and sophomore Kevin Boswick kept the Eagles scoreless for the final eight innings of the game. The win snapped Lehigh's five-game losing streak as the Mountain Hawks move back to .500 (19-19) with the win while the Eagles fall to 9-26 overall.
"Coppin State has been playing really well and they threw one of their weekend starters today so it was a good matchup," said head coach Sean Leary. "Connor and Kevin really did what we needed them to do today and they pitched outstanding. We came from behind and it's a win that can change our momentum."
Donovan fired the first seven innings of the game in his first career start, while Boswick kept the Eagles hitless for the final three frames to earn his first win of the season. Junior Justin Pacchioli led Lehigh offensively with a 3-for-5 showing at the plate, while Garzillo recorded two RBI and went 2-for-4.
Coppin State struck first in the bottom of the second inning as Mike Wright drew a leadoff walk and later scored on an RBI from Darien Purcell. Jeffrey Fitch and Dalton Cozart followed by batting in a pair of runs to put the Eagles ahead 3-0 through two innings.
The Mountain Hawk bats were off to a slow start until Pacchioli recorded an infield single in the sixth and advanced to third on a pair of errors. Garzillo followed with an RBI single to narrow Coppin State's lead to 3-1. Back-to-back singles from juniors Connor Faust and Patrick Walshe kicked off the seventh before a sacrifice bunt from freshman Patrick Donnelly advanced both runners. Freshman David Young sent an RBI groundout to shortstop to score Faust to pull Lehigh within one at 3-2.
Donovan settled down following the second inning and finished his first career start with an impressive line of five hits, three runs and six strikeouts in seven full innings.
Trailing by one heading into the final at-bat of regulation, senior Joe Abeln roped a leadoff single to open the ninth before advancing to second on a balk and stealing third base. Abeln sprinted home on a wild pitch to score the game-tying run.
Boswick struck out two Eagles in the final frame of regulation to send the game into extra innings. Sophomore Mackey Price singled to third before Pacchioli sent a base hit to left to open the tenth inning. Garzillo reached on a fielder's choice and was able to beat out a double play as Price sprinted home and the Mountain Hawks took a 4-3 lead. Boswick recorded two outs on four pitches before striking out Coppin State's final batter to help Lehigh to the 4-3 come-from-behind win.
Boswick earned the win after rendering the Eagles hitless through three innings. Coppin State's Michael Roberts suffered the loss.
Lehigh will welcome Seton Hall Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field in the final non-league contest of the season before hosting Lafayette Saturday and Sunday. Free audio broadcasts will be available for all five games.
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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
