Tuesday, April 28
New Rochelle, N.Y.
3:30 p.m.
Lehigh University
11
at
1
Iona
Lehigh picks up dominant 11-1 win at Iona
4/28/2015 6:56:00 PM | Baseball
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Senior John Elson recorded six RBI while three members of the Lehigh baseball pitching staff held Iona to just four hits as the Mountain Hawks earned an 11-1 win at Iona Tuesday afternoon. Lehigh has now won 14 of its last 21 games.
"Connor Donovan was outstanding in relief today and came in and pounded the zone and really turned the momentum of the game," said head coach Sean Leary. "Elson, Nalesnik and Young led the way offensively, but we had a very balanced offensive game that included ten extra-base hits. It was great to see that production throughout the lineup."
Elson's six RBI came from a 3-for-4 showing at the plate that included a home run, walk and two runs scored. Sophomore Jacen Nalesnik was a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish and crossed the plate a team-best four times, while classmate David Young went 3-for-4. Junior Mike Garzillo scored three runs while sophomore John Scarr knocked in a pair. Sophomore Connor Donovan earned the win on the mound after tossing 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Nalesnik sent a one-out double to center field to open the top of the first inning. A batter later, Elson sent his fourth home run of the season over the left field fence to give Lehigh an early 2-0 lead. Elson's dinger was just the third home run hit in the three-year history of Iona's City Field, the second home run by a visiting team and the first in any non-conference game played at the field.
Lehigh freshman starter Mark Washington kept the Gaels off the board in the bottom of the first, but a leadoff double and pair of groundouts plated Iona's only run in the second to cut the Mountain Hawk advantage to 2-1.
The Mountain Hawks responded in the top of the third when an infield single from Nalesnik was followed by a double down the left field line off the bat of Garzillo. Elson then sent a base hit to third base to plate Nalesnik before a sacrifice fly from Scarr scored Garzillo to re-extend Lehigh's lead to 4-1. Lehigh added another run in the fifth frame when freshman James Bleming roped a leadoff triple before scoring on a wild pitch to work the score to 5-1.
Washington limited the Gaels to just two hits through his first four innings before Donovan took over on the mound with one out and two runners on base in the bottom of the fifth. Donovan struck out the last two batters of the inning to end the threat and send the game into the sixth with Lehigh ahead 5-1.
Nalesnik drew a one-out walk in the seventh before Garzillo's second double of the day was followed by a two-run double to left center from Elson to put the Mountain Hawks up 7-1. Donovan kept the Gaels hitless for the rest of his 3.2 innings of work before Lehigh added four more runs in the top of the ninth. Elson drew an RBI walk before Scarr sent a sac fly to center, Young knocked an RBI single to left and senior Connor Faust smoked an RBI double to left center. Senior Brandon Kulp took the mound in the bottom of the ninth and with the exception of a two-out double, Kulp recorded the final three outs by way of strikeouts to secure the 11-1 win for the Mountain Hawks.
The Mountain Hawks resume action Saturday with a home doubleheader against DeSales. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. from Legacy Park and free video will be available on the Patriot League Network.
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