Sunday, March 26
Bethlehem, PA
12 p.m.
Lehigh University
6-12
8
vs
4
New Jersey Institute of Technology
3-17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Lehigh
0
1
0
0
6
1
0
8
7
1
NJIT
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
4
7
0
Mountain Hawks Sweep Weekend Series Against NJIT to Open Play at Home
3/26/2017 8:38:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Mountain Hawks wrapped up their home opening weekend at J. David Walker Field with a four-game sweep over New Jersey Institute of Technology with two more wins on Sunday. Lehigh broke out late in game one for an 8-4 victory in seven innings, followed by a 15-4 blowout win in game two to complete the doubleheader sweep.
One of the better long ball hitting teams in the nation, Lehigh (7-12) hit six total home runs on the day, including a season-high four in game one. The Mountain Hawks now have eight multi-home run games through 19 games this season.
The Mountain Hawks feasted on the opposing pitching all day long as they totaled 12 extra-base hits with six doubles to go along with their six home runs. Lehigh pitching held NJIT (3-18) to just three extra-base hits on the day with a home run in game one and two doubles in game two.
Jacen Nalesnik led all players offensively as he went a combined 6-for-8 with four runs scored and four RBI. The senior right fielder posted three extra-base hits with two doubles and a home run. Fellow senior Connor Donovan also had a big day at the plate as he went a combined 5-for-8 with four runs scored and five RBI. He had three extra-base hits with a double and two home runs.
Nalesnik and Donovan are now tied for the team lead with five home runs each. Nalesnik moves into the lead in slugging percentage at .636, while also leading the team in runs (22), hits (27), RBI (17) and total bases (49).
Lehigh once again received two quality starts on the mound and strong relief work. Freshman Levi Stoudt started and went 6.0 innings in game one. The righty surrendered two runs, one earned, on five hits with four strikeouts to improve his record to 2-2. Chris Butera earned his first save of his career as closed out the final inning of game one. Cole McManimon earned his first career victory as he started game two and went 4.0 innings. The sophomore surrendered three runs, one earned, on two hits. Matt Ratner finished the final 5.0 innings and only gave up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts for his first career save with the Brown and White.
Jeff Shanfeldt opened the scoring in game one with a dinger to left center for his first long ball of the season. LU tacked on six more runs in the fifth inning to break open a 7-0 lead. The fifth-inning outburst was highlighted by a three-run homer by Nalesnik, followed by a two-run home run by Donovan. James Bleming got involved in the home run party in game one as he poked a line drive shot to left field for his second dinger of the season.
A solo home run by Donovan in the second inning of game two opened the scoring for Lehigh as they trailed 3-1. The mountain Hawks took the lead in the fifth inning with four runs on four hits, highlighted by a sacrifice fly by Anthony Rinaldi and a RBI single by Shanfeldt. Lehigh further extended the lead in the sixth inning with seven more runs. Tony Gallo and Donovan accounted for four of the runs as they each roped two-RBI doubles in the inning.
With the four wins this weekend, Lehigh is now 15-2 all-time against NJIT since the series began in 2007. The Mountain Hawks are now 5-1 in games against New Jersey teams this season.
LU is off to a 4-0 start to an 11-game home stand. The Brown and White will return to action on Tuesday to face La Salle in an opening round game of the Liberty Bell Classic. Lehigh will then return to action on Wednesday to host Saint Peter's.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stoudt, Levi (2-2)
L: STAFFLINGER, Tyler (1-2)
S: Butera, Chris (1)
Batting:
HR: Bleming, James 1 ; Nalesnik, Jacen 1 ; Shanfeldt, Jeff 1 ; Donovan, Connor 1
RBI: Bleming, James 1 ; Nalesnik, Jacen 3 ; Shanfeldt, Jeff 1 ; Donovan, Connor 2
SH: Donnelly, Patrick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bleming, James 2 ; Nalesnik, Jacen 1 ; Rinaldi, Anthony 1 ; Shanfeldt, Jeff 1 ; Donovan, Connor 1 ; Schumacher, Thomas 1 ; Fitzgerald, Stephen 1
SB: Nalesnik, Jacen 1 ; Rinaldi, Anthony 1 ; Kersey, Chris 1
CS: Fitzgerald, Stephen 1
Batting:
HR: PIETRONICO, Evan 1
RBI: PIETRONICO, Evan 2 ; ANASTASIA, Michael 1 ; COCCIADIFERRO, Matt 1
SH: UTTENDORFER, Jesse 1
Base Running:
RUNS: UTTENDORFER, Jesse 1 ; ETTS, Justin 2 ; PIETRONICO, Evan 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF
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OF
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IF
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RHP
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