Lehigh falls 5-3 at Delaware

NEWARK, Del. – The Lehigh baseball team wasn't able to complete a ninth-inning comeback attempt in a 5-3 defeat at Delaware Tuesday in the consolation round of the Liberty Bell Classic.

The Blue Hens took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Lehigh answered right back in the top of the second as junior Anthony Rinaldi took first on a Delaware error before advancing to second on a balk. Senior Patrick Walshe followed with a double down the left field line to score Rinaldi. Two batters later, junior Mackey Price ripped a triple to right center to plate Walshe and give the Mountain Hawks a 2-1 lead.

Lehigh freshman starter Mark Washington kept Delaware off the board in the second before a one-run single from Zach Lopes helped the Blue Hens tie the game at two in the third inning. Washington rendered the Blue Hens hitless for the next two innings until a two-run home run from Diaz Nardo gave Delaware a 4-2 advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Freshman John Fitz took the mound in relief following the home run and recorded a 1-2-3 seventh inning before surrendering an unearned run in the eighth that gave the Blue Hens a 5-2 lead. Sophomore Connor Donovan singled to lead off the ninth frame before freshman Ryan Bonshak drew a base on balls to put two runners on base. Freshman James Bleming sent a base hit to right field to score Donovan, but Delaware's weekend closer Luke Alicknavitch was able to secure the save and 5-3 victory for the Blue Hens.

Washington finished with a line of four runs on five hits in 5.1 innings, while Fitz allowed one run on one hit in 2.2 frames. Delaware reliever Nick Spadafino earned the win. Rinaldi and Bleming both finished with a pair of hits.

Next up, the Mountain Hawks will host defending champion Bucknell in a key Patriot League series this weekend. Doubleheaders will begin at 12 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

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Team Stats

James Bleming

Anthony Rinaldi

Justin Pacchioli

Mike Garzillo

Players Mentioned

James Bleming

Ryan Bonshak

Connor Donovan

John Fitz

Mackey Price

Anthony Rinaldi

Patrick Walshe

Mark Washington

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