Saturday, April 26
Goodman Campus
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Lafayette
Mountain Hawks host rival Lafayette in final regular-season league series
4/25/2014 11:36:00 AM | Baseball
Live Audio (Free) | Live Stats | The Rivalry: Lehigh vs. Lafayette
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team will square off against its archrival Lafayette this weekend in the final regular-season league series as the Mountain Hawks fight for a spot in the Patriot League Tournament on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field. Doubleheaders will be played both Saturday and Sunday with first pitches set for 12 p.m. Free audio broadcasts will be available for all games and the program's eight seniors will be honored on Senior Day before Saturday's opener.
"The kids are really excited about playing for something in the last weekend of the regular season," said head coach Sean Leary. "Add in that it's our rival, and it adds more energy to the situation but won't change our preparations. We've spent the whole week focusing on what we do well and playing and executing the way we have for the majority of the season."
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 this weekend as Lehigh sits at 7-8 with a 2.5-game lead on Lafayette (4-10) and 3.5-game lead on Holy Cross (3-11). Lehigh can clinch a spot in the tournament, its first since 2010, with two wins this weekend.
The Mountain Hawks are coming off a pair of midweek victories, a 4-3 extra-inning win at Coppin State Tuesday and a 3-2 victory over Seton Hall Wednesday. Strong pitching led the way in both contests, as the Mountain Hawks have brought their team ERA down to 4.22. Lehigh carries an overall record of 20-19 and an impressive home mark of 9-2, the best home record of any Patriot League team, into this weekend's showdown.
Lehigh is batting a league-leading .274 as a team, led by junior Justin Pacchioli's .341 average. Sophomore Mike Garzillo holds a .319 batting average and has batted in a team-best 26 RBI. Senior Joe Abeln has scored a squad-best 26 runs, while junior John Elson follows with 24 runs scored and 20 RBI. Elson also leads team in stolen bases with ten.
Lehigh has averaged an ERA of 3.79 in league games and has pitched three shutouts so far in Patriot League play. Seniors Mike Burke (2-3, 4.25 ERA) and Colin Gotzon (3-1, 3.79 ERA), junior Nick Stephens (2-4, 4.30 ERA) and sophomore Kevin Long (4-2, 3.10 ERA) have all been strong starters for the Mountain Hawks. Senior relief pitcher Joey McNamara (2-0, 2.73 ERA) has been impressive out of the bullpen, while classmate Nick Cassell's (4-3, 3.38 ERA) six saves are tied for the most in the league. Cassell is one of just 17 Division I pitchers in the nation to lead his team in wins and saves.
The Leopards (11-23, 4-10 PL) have lost five of their last six games, but were able to salvage the fourth game against Bucknell last weekend to avoid being swept. Lafayette is 6-14 away from home this season. Lafayette's .226 batting average is the lowest in the Patriot League, and its league ERA of 4.54 ranks fifth. The Leopards have not won a league series yet this season, after splitting with Holy Cross (two games), being swept at Army, splitting with Navy and dropping three at Bucknell.
Alex Woinski leads Lafayette with a .299 batting average. Andrew Santomauro leads the team with 23 runs scored, while he and Woinski have batted in a squad-best 16 RBI. Santomauro also leads the team in stolen bases with 11 in his 14 attempts. Lafayette will rely on starting pitchers Connor Ortolf (2-6, 2.72 ERA), David Bednar (1-3, 3.44 ERA), Mitch Leeds (0-4, 4.43 ERA) and Trevor Houck (1-1, 2.78 ERA).
Lehigh and Lafayette have split the past three series. In the most recent non-split, Lehigh swept the Leopards in 2010. Lafayette holds a 143-205-2 all-time advantage.
Probable pitching matchups:
Game 1: RHP Colin Gotzon (3-1, 3.79 ERA) vs. LHP Connor Ortolf (2-6, 2.72 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Mike Burke (2-3, 4.25 ERA) vs. RHP David Bednar (1-3, 3.44 ERA)
Game 3: RHP Kevin Long (4-2, 3.10 ERA) vs. RHP Mitch Leeds (0-4, 4.43 ERA)
Game 4: TBD vs. RHP Trevor Houck (1-1, 2.78 ERA)
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team will square off against its archrival Lafayette this weekend in the final regular-season league series as the Mountain Hawks fight for a spot in the Patriot League Tournament on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field. Doubleheaders will be played both Saturday and Sunday with first pitches set for 12 p.m. Free audio broadcasts will be available for all games and the program's eight seniors will be honored on Senior Day before Saturday's opener.
"The kids are really excited about playing for something in the last weekend of the regular season," said head coach Sean Leary. "Add in that it's our rival, and it adds more energy to the situation but won't change our preparations. We've spent the whole week focusing on what we do well and playing and executing the way we have for the majority of the season."
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 this weekend as Lehigh sits at 7-8 with a 2.5-game lead on Lafayette (4-10) and 3.5-game lead on Holy Cross (3-11). Lehigh can clinch a spot in the tournament, its first since 2010, with two wins this weekend.
The Mountain Hawks are coming off a pair of midweek victories, a 4-3 extra-inning win at Coppin State Tuesday and a 3-2 victory over Seton Hall Wednesday. Strong pitching led the way in both contests, as the Mountain Hawks have brought their team ERA down to 4.22. Lehigh carries an overall record of 20-19 and an impressive home mark of 9-2, the best home record of any Patriot League team, into this weekend's showdown.
Lehigh is batting a league-leading .274 as a team, led by junior Justin Pacchioli's .341 average. Sophomore Mike Garzillo holds a .319 batting average and has batted in a team-best 26 RBI. Senior Joe Abeln has scored a squad-best 26 runs, while junior John Elson follows with 24 runs scored and 20 RBI. Elson also leads team in stolen bases with ten.
Lehigh has averaged an ERA of 3.79 in league games and has pitched three shutouts so far in Patriot League play. Seniors Mike Burke (2-3, 4.25 ERA) and Colin Gotzon (3-1, 3.79 ERA), junior Nick Stephens (2-4, 4.30 ERA) and sophomore Kevin Long (4-2, 3.10 ERA) have all been strong starters for the Mountain Hawks. Senior relief pitcher Joey McNamara (2-0, 2.73 ERA) has been impressive out of the bullpen, while classmate Nick Cassell's (4-3, 3.38 ERA) six saves are tied for the most in the league. Cassell is one of just 17 Division I pitchers in the nation to lead his team in wins and saves.
The Leopards (11-23, 4-10 PL) have lost five of their last six games, but were able to salvage the fourth game against Bucknell last weekend to avoid being swept. Lafayette is 6-14 away from home this season. Lafayette's .226 batting average is the lowest in the Patriot League, and its league ERA of 4.54 ranks fifth. The Leopards have not won a league series yet this season, after splitting with Holy Cross (two games), being swept at Army, splitting with Navy and dropping three at Bucknell.
Alex Woinski leads Lafayette with a .299 batting average. Andrew Santomauro leads the team with 23 runs scored, while he and Woinski have batted in a squad-best 16 RBI. Santomauro also leads the team in stolen bases with 11 in his 14 attempts. Lafayette will rely on starting pitchers Connor Ortolf (2-6, 2.72 ERA), David Bednar (1-3, 3.44 ERA), Mitch Leeds (0-4, 4.43 ERA) and Trevor Houck (1-1, 2.78 ERA).
Lehigh and Lafayette have split the past three series. In the most recent non-split, Lehigh swept the Leopards in 2010. Lafayette holds a 143-205-2 all-time advantage.
Probable pitching matchups:
Game 1: RHP Colin Gotzon (3-1, 3.79 ERA) vs. LHP Connor Ortolf (2-6, 2.72 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Mike Burke (2-3, 4.25 ERA) vs. RHP David Bednar (1-3, 3.44 ERA)
Game 3: RHP Kevin Long (4-2, 3.10 ERA) vs. RHP Mitch Leeds (0-4, 4.43 ERA)
Game 4: TBD vs. RHP Trevor Houck (1-1, 2.78 ERA)
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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