Friday, May 16
Lewisburg, Pa.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Bucknell
Mountain Hawks set for Patriot League Championship series at Bucknell
5/14/2014 2:36:00 PM | Baseball
Game Notes | Free Video (PLN) | Live Stats | Patriot League Tournament Central
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team makes its first appearance in the Patriot League Championship Series since 2006 this Friday and Saturday when the Mountain Hawks travel to top-seeded Bucknell for a best-of-three series. The winner earns the league crown and an automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals. A doubleheader will be played Friday beginning at noon and Saturday's if-necessary game will also start at 12 p.m. All three games will be broadcast for free on the Patriot League Network.
Third-seeded Lehigh defeated two-time defending champion Army in a best-of-three series last weekend in West Point to secure a spot in the championship. The Mountain Hawks took game one 6-0 behind senior pitcher Colin Gotzon's ten strikeouts and 8.1 shutout innings before suffering a tight 3-2 loss in the nightcap of a Saturday doubleheader. Senior relief pitchers Nick Cassell and Joey McNamara held Army scoreless for the final seven innings of a 3-1 win in Sunday's deciding game to clinch the series.
The Mountain Hawks lead the league in batting average (.275) and on base percentage (.352). Junior Justin Pacchioli leads Lehigh with a .370 batting average. Pacchioli led the Patriot League with a .386 average during league play. Sophomore Garzillo leads the squad with 33 RBI and 15 extra-base hits, while senior Joe Abeln has scored a team-best 30 runs. Senior Tyler Brong and junior John Elson have both hit a pair of home runs this season. Freshman Patrick Donnelly hit .545 (6-for-11) against Army in the semifinals with two RBI, two runs scored, two stolen bases and a double.
Lehigh carries a team ERA of 3.81 heading into this weekend, which is the lowest collective ERA since Sean Leary has been the head coach of the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh holds an even lower mark, 3.51, in Patriot League play this season. Seniors Colin Gotzon (5-1, 2.91 ERA) and Mike Burke (3-3, 3.44 ERA) have been strong day one starters for Lehigh, while Kevin Long (4-4, 3.06) has been consistent as well. Junior Nick Stephens (2-4, 4.50) and freshman Matt Kozemchak (2-0, 2.53) have also started weekend series for Lehigh. Out of the bullpen, McNamara (2-0, 2.61 ERA) has been a strong setup man, while classmate Nick Cassell (5-3, 2.84 ERA) has tallied a league-leading seven saves. Gotzon leads the team with 60 strikeouts, while Cassell has fanned 41.
The top-seeded Bison earned a share of the Patriot League regular season title after finishing league play with a 15-5 record. Head Coach Scott Heather earned Patriot League Coach of the Year recognition, while Brett Smith was named Rookie of the Year.
The Bison earned a spot in the Patriot League Championship after sweeping a semifinal series from No. 4 Navy last weekend. Bucknell broke out the bats to capture a dominant 15-6 win in Saturday's opener before winning the nightcap 8-4. Saturday's series win marked the Bison's first postseason series victory since they claimed the 2010 Patriot League title at Holy Cross.
Rob Krentzman led Bucknell with five hits in the doubleheader, while he was one of three Bison along with Joe Ogren and Alex O'Neill to drive in five runs. Anthony Gingerelli was 4-for-7 with five runs scored, while Ogren (3-for-7), Brett Smith (3-for-9) and O'Neill (3-for-10) each collected three hits on the day.
The Bison's .255 batting average ranks fourth in the league, but their ERA of 3.60 sits second. The impressive ERA is Bucknell's best in more than 40 years.
Corey Furman leads the team with a .388 batting average, while Gingerelli (.333), Ogren (.320) and Smith (.314) are also hitting above .300 on the season. Smith has scored a team-best 39 runs while Gingerelli has posted a squad-leading 26 RBI.
Starting pitchers Bryson Hough and Dan Weigel earned the wins in Saturday's semifinal series. Hough (7-4, 4.62 ERA) and Weigel (6-3, 2.82 ERA) are the projected starting pitchers for Friday's doubleheader, while Andrew Andreychik (5-4, 3.79 ERA) will take the ball in the if-necessary game three Saturday.
In Lehigh's last championship appearance, the Mountain Hawks defeated Bucknell in 2006 to earn the program's first league title. Lehigh is 3-0 all-time versus Bucknell in the Patriot League Tournament and 0-2 when playing tournament games in Lewisburg. The Bison won three of four regular season games between the two teams.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh baseball team makes its first appearance in the Patriot League Championship Series since 2006 this Friday and Saturday when the Mountain Hawks travel to top-seeded Bucknell for a best-of-three series. The winner earns the league crown and an automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals. A doubleheader will be played Friday beginning at noon and Saturday's if-necessary game will also start at 12 p.m. All three games will be broadcast for free on the Patriot League Network.
Third-seeded Lehigh defeated two-time defending champion Army in a best-of-three series last weekend in West Point to secure a spot in the championship. The Mountain Hawks took game one 6-0 behind senior pitcher Colin Gotzon's ten strikeouts and 8.1 shutout innings before suffering a tight 3-2 loss in the nightcap of a Saturday doubleheader. Senior relief pitchers Nick Cassell and Joey McNamara held Army scoreless for the final seven innings of a 3-1 win in Sunday's deciding game to clinch the series.
The Mountain Hawks lead the league in batting average (.275) and on base percentage (.352). Junior Justin Pacchioli leads Lehigh with a .370 batting average. Pacchioli led the Patriot League with a .386 average during league play. Sophomore Garzillo leads the squad with 33 RBI and 15 extra-base hits, while senior Joe Abeln has scored a team-best 30 runs. Senior Tyler Brong and junior John Elson have both hit a pair of home runs this season. Freshman Patrick Donnelly hit .545 (6-for-11) against Army in the semifinals with two RBI, two runs scored, two stolen bases and a double.
Lehigh carries a team ERA of 3.81 heading into this weekend, which is the lowest collective ERA since Sean Leary has been the head coach of the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh holds an even lower mark, 3.51, in Patriot League play this season. Seniors Colin Gotzon (5-1, 2.91 ERA) and Mike Burke (3-3, 3.44 ERA) have been strong day one starters for Lehigh, while Kevin Long (4-4, 3.06) has been consistent as well. Junior Nick Stephens (2-4, 4.50) and freshman Matt Kozemchak (2-0, 2.53) have also started weekend series for Lehigh. Out of the bullpen, McNamara (2-0, 2.61 ERA) has been a strong setup man, while classmate Nick Cassell (5-3, 2.84 ERA) has tallied a league-leading seven saves. Gotzon leads the team with 60 strikeouts, while Cassell has fanned 41.
The top-seeded Bison earned a share of the Patriot League regular season title after finishing league play with a 15-5 record. Head Coach Scott Heather earned Patriot League Coach of the Year recognition, while Brett Smith was named Rookie of the Year.
The Bison earned a spot in the Patriot League Championship after sweeping a semifinal series from No. 4 Navy last weekend. Bucknell broke out the bats to capture a dominant 15-6 win in Saturday's opener before winning the nightcap 8-4. Saturday's series win marked the Bison's first postseason series victory since they claimed the 2010 Patriot League title at Holy Cross.
Rob Krentzman led Bucknell with five hits in the doubleheader, while he was one of three Bison along with Joe Ogren and Alex O'Neill to drive in five runs. Anthony Gingerelli was 4-for-7 with five runs scored, while Ogren (3-for-7), Brett Smith (3-for-9) and O'Neill (3-for-10) each collected three hits on the day.
The Bison's .255 batting average ranks fourth in the league, but their ERA of 3.60 sits second. The impressive ERA is Bucknell's best in more than 40 years.
Corey Furman leads the team with a .388 batting average, while Gingerelli (.333), Ogren (.320) and Smith (.314) are also hitting above .300 on the season. Smith has scored a team-best 39 runs while Gingerelli has posted a squad-leading 26 RBI.
Starting pitchers Bryson Hough and Dan Weigel earned the wins in Saturday's semifinal series. Hough (7-4, 4.62 ERA) and Weigel (6-3, 2.82 ERA) are the projected starting pitchers for Friday's doubleheader, while Andrew Andreychik (5-4, 3.79 ERA) will take the ball in the if-necessary game three Saturday.
In Lehigh's last championship appearance, the Mountain Hawks defeated Bucknell in 2006 to earn the program's first league title. Lehigh is 3-0 all-time versus Bucknell in the Patriot League Tournament and 0-2 when playing tournament games in Lewisburg. The Bison won three of four regular season games between the two teams.
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