Lehigh battles to 3-2 win over Seton Hall

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team fought its way to a 3-2 win over Seton Hall, ranked 29th in the nation in Collegiate Baseball's national poll, Wednesday afternoon at the Goodman Campus Baseball Field. Strong pitching and clutch hitting helped the Mountain Hawks improve to 20-19 with the win, Lehigh's first 20-win season since 2011, as Seton Hall (28-9) suffered just its ninth loss of the season.

"We threw the ball really well today," said head coach Sean Leary. "The conditions were such that if you put the ball over the plate and made the defensive plays, you had a pretty good shot to have a low-scoring game. I'm really proud of the guys. It was a good day to build up some confidence and was certainly an outstanding opponent to post a win against."

Four Mountain Hawks comprised a strong legion of Lehigh arms that allowed just two runs and six hits from a Seton Hall squad that was hitting .312 heading into Wednesday's matchup. Junior lefty Nick Macaione picked up his first win of the season after throwing the final 3.2 innings of the contest. Junior Connor Faust batted in two of Lehigh's runs while also stealing a pair of bases, while sophomore Mike Garzillo went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored.

"The middle of our lineup did a great job with runners in scoring position," said Leary. "That'll be the difference in Patriot League play. I'm excited to see those guys come through and see us find a way as it went back and forth there for a little bit."

After a scoreless first inning thrown by senior Jayme Edwards, the Pirates put the game's first run on the board in the second following two errors and an RBI infield single off the bat of Derek Jenkins. Edwards forced a flyout to strand two Seton Hall runners on base and limit the damage. Freshman Steven Goldberg came on to relieve Edwards in the third as the starter finished a strong two innings with one run, which wasn't earned, two hits and two strikeouts.

A single through the left side from Garzillo started the fourth for Lehigh before senior Joe Abeln was hit by a pitch. Faust followed with a base hit through the left side as Garzillo ran home and tied the contest at one. Senior Tyler Brong smacked a single to Seton Hall's shortstop to score Abeln as the Mountain Hawks took a 2-1 lead through four.

Goldberg and junior Jordan Smith combined to throw 3.1 innings scoreless innings before Macaione took the mound mid-way through the top of the sixth. The lefty inherited runners on second and third with just one out, but fanned the next two Pirate to keep Lehigh ahead. With two outs in the eighth, Seton Hall's D.J. Ruhlman reached base with a single before scoring on an RBI double from Alex Falconi to tie the contest at two.

Garzillo beat out a close play and recorded an infield single to lead off the bottom half of the eighth. Abeln drew a walk before Faust beat out a potential double play and Garzillo snuck home to score what would prove to be the game-winning run as Lehigh took a 3-2 lead through eight.

Macaione remained on the mound to close it out in the ninth. He surrendered a one-out walk to Jenkins, but quickly retired the next two Pirates to secure the 3-2 win.

The win was Macaione's first of the season as he finished with a line of one run on two hits and four strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief work. Seton Hall's Steven Lombardi suffered the loss after allowing the game-winning run in the eighth.

The Mountain Hawks host archrival Lafayette in the final regular-season league series this weekend on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field. Lehigh will honor its eight seniors Saturday on Senior Day. The Mountain Hawks sit in fourth place in the Patriot League standings and will be playing for their first postseason berth since 2010. Doubleheaders will be played both days with first pitches set for 12 p.m. Free audio broadcasts of all four games will be available via Lehighsports.com.

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Team Stats

Mike Garzillo

Justin Pacchioli

Connor Faust

Tyler Brong

Lehigh University Athletics

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