Saturday, March 25
Bethlehem, PA
12 p.m.
Lehigh University
4-12
2
vs
1
New Jersey Institute of Technology
3-15
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
NJIT
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
6
0
Lehigh
2
0
0
0
0
0
X
2
5
1
Lehigh Baseball Captures Sweep in Home Opener
3/25/2017 7:40:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Mountain Hawks opened play at newly-named J. David Walker Field in winning fashion by sweeping New Jersey Institute of Technology in a doubleheader on Saturday. Lehigh edged out NJIT, 2-1, in seven innings in game one, before racking up the runs in game two for an 11-6 victory.
Lehigh (5-12) received two strong performances out of its starting pitchers as the two combined to surrender just three runs in a combined total of 11 innings of work. NJIT (3-16) also had solid starting pitching in game one, but the Mountain Hawk bats came alive in game two, which forced the Highlanders to go to the bullpen in the fourth inning.
Connor Donovan gave LU a strong 5.1 innings as he got the call to start game one. The senior surrendered five hits, but only allowed one run as he struck out two batters to just one walk. Donovan limited the damage by letting his defense make the routine plays behind him as evidence of the nine putouts by David Young at first base and eight assists by his infielders.
Freshman Jason Reynolds made his first collegiate start for the Brown and White as took to the mound in game two. The young right-hander came out on fire in the first inning with three-straight strikeouts and allowed just two runs in 5.2 innings of work. Reynolds finished with 11 strikeouts on the day to tie his fellow freshman teammate Levi Stoudt for the most strikeouts in a game this season.
After being held to just five hits in game one and only four different players reaching base, Lehigh broke out of the slump in game two as seven different players recorded a hit and 10 different players reached base at least once. Five different players recorded multi-hit performances in game two, including Jacen Nalesnik and Anthony Rinaldi who each finished with three hits.
Nalesnik led all Lehigh players offensively on the day as he went a combined 4-for-8 with three runs scored and a RBI. Rinaldi ended his seven-game hit streak as he went hitless in game one, but rebounded with a 3-for-4 performance in game two with a run scored and two RBI. Rinaldi now has seven multi-hit games on the season, while Nalesnik has five.
Lehigh posted a win in its home-opening game for the first time since 2014 and improves to 6-4 in the last 10 home openers. The Mountain Hawks are also 2-0 against NJIT in home openers during that span and 13-2 overall against the Highlanders.
The two teams will back at again on Sunday for another doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at J. David Walker Field.
Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates and content.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Donovan, Connor (1-1)
L: FERNANDEZ, Andres (0-1)
S: Frohman, Ethan (2)
Batting:
HR: HABERSTROH, Bryan 1
RBI: HABERSTROH, Bryan 1
SH: KRAMER, Cody 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HABERSTROH, Bryan 1
SB: UTTENDORFER, Jesse 1 ; COCCIADIFERRO, Matt 1
CS: ETTS, Justin 1
Batting:
2B: Bleming, James 1 ; Donnelly, Patrick 2
RBI: Donnelly, Patrick 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bleming, James 1 ; Nalesnik, Jacen 1
SB: Nalesnik, Jacen 1 ; Fitzgerald, Stephen 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
1B/P
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ BaseballBaseball vs. Coppin State
Tuesday, April 29
Baseball vs. Penn
Wednesday, March 19
Baseball vs. UAlbany
Sunday, March 16
Season Preview Baseball
Thursday, February 13
