Saturday, April 26
Goodman Campus
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
21-19, 0
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Lafayette
11-23, 0
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Lafayette
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Lehigh
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11
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Lehigh clinches postseason berth with sweep of Lafayette on Senior Day
4/26/2014 6:42:00 PM | Baseball
| The Rivalry: Lehigh vs. Lafayette
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team was victorious in both games of Saturday's doubleheader against Lafayette (11-24, 4-12 PL), taking game one 7-2 before winning the nightcap 4-2 on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field on Senior Day. The wins secure Lehigh's (22-19, 9-8 PL) first Patriot League Tournament berth since 2010.
"Obviously qualifying for the playoffs was the goal today, but what was fun was seeing the seniors do such an outstanding job," said head coach Sean Leary. "The seniors that got us to this point were outstanding. I was excited when we kept tacking on runs and didn't get shaken by being down early."
Senior Colin Gotzon allowed two Leopard runs in the first inning of the day's first game, but kept Lafayette scoreless for the remainder of the contest to pick up a complete-game win. Classmate Mike Burke threw six innings of one-run ball in game two before senior Nick Cassell finished it out to pick up his league-leading seventh save of the season. The strong Mountain Hawk pitchers allowed Lafayette to cross the plate in just three of the day's 16 innings of play and combined to strike out 18 Leopards.
The Mountain Hawks were strong offensively, as well, recording double-digit hits in both games. Junior Justin Pacchioli had a 5-for-8 showing at the plate, while also scoring four runs, stealing three bases and recording one RBI in the two games combined. Sophomore Mike Garzillo batted in three runs. Garzillo and senior Joe Abeln both went 3-for-6 at the dish in the two games combined. Senior Tyler Brong, junior John Elson and freshman Patrick Donnelly each batted in a pair of runs.
The Lehigh defense started off a little shaky in the series opener, a seven-inning contest, recording back-to-back errors. A double down the left field line from Jackson Kramer put Lafayette ahead 1-0 before Tyler Hudson singled in another run and the Leopards took a 2-0 lead with no outs. Gotzon settled down, striking out the next two batters before forcing a groundout to limit the damage.
Pacchioli led off Lehigh's turn at the plate with a single up the middle before Abeln roped a base hit through the left side in the bottom half of the frame. Elson followed suit with a single of his own to load the bases before Brong drew bases-loaded walk. Donnelly sent a single up the middle to score Abeln and Elson as Lehigh took a 3-2 lead through one.
A sacrifice fly from Garzillo scored junior Tim McKay in the second to tack on another Lehigh run before the Mountain Hawks struck again in the third inning. An RBI single up the middle off Elson's bat scored Abeln before a base hit from Brong brought home Elson and Lehigh took a 6-2 lead through three.
Gotzon allowed just one Lafayette hit in the second and third to shut down the Leopard offense while Lehigh extended its lead. The Mountain Hawks tacked on their final run of the opener in the fourth on an RBI double down the left field line from Garzillo that scored Pacchioli.
Gotzon continued to fire as he cruised through the remainder of the game and picked up his fourth win of the season. He finished with a line of nine strikeouts, tied for his season-high, eight hits and two runs, only one of which was earned. Lafayette starting pitcher Connor Ortolf suffered the loss after allowing six of Lehigh's seven runs.
After a scoreless first two innings in the day's second game, a nine-inning contest, where each pitcher was helped out by strong defensive plays, Lafayette struck first in the third inning. Kramer singled up the middle to score Matt Lawrence and give the Leopards a 1-0 lead.
Lafayette starting pitcher David Bednar was strong through the first four innings and worked out of multiple jams as Lehigh couldn't capitalize with runners in scoring position. The Mountain Hawks finally got on the board in the fifth as senior Brandon Wilt led off with a single to left field before Pacchioli put down a bunt for a base hit. Garzillo followed with a rip up the middle to score Wilt and tie the contest at one. Elson followed with a sacrifice fly as Lehigh took a 2-1 lead through five.
Bednar was replaced by Alex Farina in the sixth, but Lehigh picked up right where it left off. McKay sent a base hit through the left side before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Pacchioli followed with an RBI single to right to increase Lehigh's lead to 3-1. The speedy junior then stole second before being moved to third by a single off the bat of Garzillo. The two Mountain Hawks executed a double steal with Abeln up to bat as Pacchioli sprinted home and Lehigh's advantage moved to 4-1.
Burke was strong on the mound through his six innings of work to keep Lehigh in the game, finishing with a line of one run on six hits and five strikeouts before he was relieved by Cassell. The closer allowed a Leopard run in the eighth, but was able to finish the game and pick up his seventh save of the season while striking out four batters in his three innings of work.
The Mountain Hawks look to improve upon their four-game win streak tomorrow as Lehigh hosts Lafayette in the final two games of the series and regular season on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. Since the postseason berth is clinched, there will be no live audio broadcasts of Sunday's games.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team was victorious in both games of Saturday's doubleheader against Lafayette (11-24, 4-12 PL), taking game one 7-2 before winning the nightcap 4-2 on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field on Senior Day. The wins secure Lehigh's (22-19, 9-8 PL) first Patriot League Tournament berth since 2010.
"Obviously qualifying for the playoffs was the goal today, but what was fun was seeing the seniors do such an outstanding job," said head coach Sean Leary. "The seniors that got us to this point were outstanding. I was excited when we kept tacking on runs and didn't get shaken by being down early."
Senior Colin Gotzon allowed two Leopard runs in the first inning of the day's first game, but kept Lafayette scoreless for the remainder of the contest to pick up a complete-game win. Classmate Mike Burke threw six innings of one-run ball in game two before senior Nick Cassell finished it out to pick up his league-leading seventh save of the season. The strong Mountain Hawk pitchers allowed Lafayette to cross the plate in just three of the day's 16 innings of play and combined to strike out 18 Leopards.
The Mountain Hawks were strong offensively, as well, recording double-digit hits in both games. Junior Justin Pacchioli had a 5-for-8 showing at the plate, while also scoring four runs, stealing three bases and recording one RBI in the two games combined. Sophomore Mike Garzillo batted in three runs. Garzillo and senior Joe Abeln both went 3-for-6 at the dish in the two games combined. Senior Tyler Brong, junior John Elson and freshman Patrick Donnelly each batted in a pair of runs.
The Lehigh defense started off a little shaky in the series opener, a seven-inning contest, recording back-to-back errors. A double down the left field line from Jackson Kramer put Lafayette ahead 1-0 before Tyler Hudson singled in another run and the Leopards took a 2-0 lead with no outs. Gotzon settled down, striking out the next two batters before forcing a groundout to limit the damage.
Pacchioli led off Lehigh's turn at the plate with a single up the middle before Abeln roped a base hit through the left side in the bottom half of the frame. Elson followed suit with a single of his own to load the bases before Brong drew bases-loaded walk. Donnelly sent a single up the middle to score Abeln and Elson as Lehigh took a 3-2 lead through one.
A sacrifice fly from Garzillo scored junior Tim McKay in the second to tack on another Lehigh run before the Mountain Hawks struck again in the third inning. An RBI single up the middle off Elson's bat scored Abeln before a base hit from Brong brought home Elson and Lehigh took a 6-2 lead through three.
Gotzon allowed just one Lafayette hit in the second and third to shut down the Leopard offense while Lehigh extended its lead. The Mountain Hawks tacked on their final run of the opener in the fourth on an RBI double down the left field line from Garzillo that scored Pacchioli.
Gotzon continued to fire as he cruised through the remainder of the game and picked up his fourth win of the season. He finished with a line of nine strikeouts, tied for his season-high, eight hits and two runs, only one of which was earned. Lafayette starting pitcher Connor Ortolf suffered the loss after allowing six of Lehigh's seven runs.
After a scoreless first two innings in the day's second game, a nine-inning contest, where each pitcher was helped out by strong defensive plays, Lafayette struck first in the third inning. Kramer singled up the middle to score Matt Lawrence and give the Leopards a 1-0 lead.
Lafayette starting pitcher David Bednar was strong through the first four innings and worked out of multiple jams as Lehigh couldn't capitalize with runners in scoring position. The Mountain Hawks finally got on the board in the fifth as senior Brandon Wilt led off with a single to left field before Pacchioli put down a bunt for a base hit. Garzillo followed with a rip up the middle to score Wilt and tie the contest at one. Elson followed with a sacrifice fly as Lehigh took a 2-1 lead through five.
Bednar was replaced by Alex Farina in the sixth, but Lehigh picked up right where it left off. McKay sent a base hit through the left side before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Pacchioli followed with an RBI single to right to increase Lehigh's lead to 3-1. The speedy junior then stole second before being moved to third by a single off the bat of Garzillo. The two Mountain Hawks executed a double steal with Abeln up to bat as Pacchioli sprinted home and Lehigh's advantage moved to 4-1.
Burke was strong on the mound through his six innings of work to keep Lehigh in the game, finishing with a line of one run on six hits and five strikeouts before he was relieved by Cassell. The closer allowed a Leopard run in the eighth, but was able to finish the game and pick up his seventh save of the season while striking out four batters in his three innings of work.
The Mountain Hawks look to improve upon their four-game win streak tomorrow as Lehigh hosts Lafayette in the final two games of the series and regular season on the Goodman Campus Baseball Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. Since the postseason berth is clinched, there will be no live audio broadcasts of Sunday's games.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gotzon, Colin (4-1)
L: Ortolf, Connor (2-7)
Batting:
2B: Kramer, Jackson 1
RBI: Kramer, Jackson 1 ; Hudson, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Santomauro, Andrew 1 ; Kramer, Jackson 1
HBP: Woinski, Alex 1
Batting:
2B: Pacchioli, Justin 1 ; Garzillo, Mike 1 ; Abeln, Joe 1
RBI: Garzillo, Mike 2 ; Elson, John 1 ; Brong, Tyler 2 ; Donnelly, Patrick 2
SH: Faust, Connor 1 ; Wilt, Brandon 1
SF: Garzillo, Mike 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pacchioli, Justin 2 ; Abeln, Joe 2 ; Elson, John 2 ; McKay, Tim 1
CS: Pacchioli, Justin 1 ; Brong, Tyler 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
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4
R
2
H
3
RBI
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AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
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