Lehigh University Athletics
Saturday, April 15
Bethlehem, PA
12 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
United States Naval Academy
Mountain Hawks Host Defending League Champion Navy in Weekend Series
4/14/2017 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Mountain Hawks will reach the midway point of their Patriot League slate this weekend when they host defending league champion Navy in a four-game series at J. David Walker Field. Saturday and Sunday's doubleheaders will both start at 12 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader will be covered live on the Patriot League Network and live stats will be provided for all four games on the weekend.
Lehigh (11-20, 2-6) is coming off a much-needed victory on Tuesday which ended a three-game skid and breathed life back into a recently struggling offense. LU's 13 runs in the victory over La Salle matched the combined run total from the previous eight games. Lehigh also ended a nine-game run without a double-digit hit total and a seven-game streak without scoring in double-figures.
The Mountain Hawks hit four more home runs in Tuesday's triumph and now have seven long balls in the last two games. LU has 11 multi-home run games on the season while averaging 1.10 homers per game. Lehigh's 34 home runs is the 17th-highest total in the nation while also ranking inside the top-25 in home runs per game. LU leads the Patriot League in both home run categories.
Navy (25-12, 6-2) enters the weekend with a head of steam while riding a seven-game win streak. On that streak, the Midshipmen swept a Patriot League series against Lafayette and recorded non-league wins over Coppin State, Towson and Maryland Eastern Shore. The Mids have averaged 9.29 runs per game on an average of 12.14 hits per game with a plus-37 run differential on their recent win streak.
The defending Patriot League champions boast one of the best offenses in the nation. The Mids rank sixth nationally with a .317 batting average while ranking fourth in total hits and seventh in runs scored. Navy's .469 slugging percentage also ranks in the top-25 while owning a top-10 ranking in both doubles and triples.
The league's best offensive players will be on display this weekend when the Mids and Mountain Hawks get together. Navy hitters own the top four spots in the league in batting average and the top two spots in on-base percentage. Logan Knowles ranks third in the league with a .367 batting average while leading the league in on-base percentage (.475), runs scored (44), hits (54) and triples (5). Lehigh's big offensive gun, Jacen Nalesnik, ranks among the league leaders with a .336 batting average while leading the league in slugging percentage (.664) and home runs (9). Nalesnik also ranks third in runs scored (32) and fifth in total hits (40).
Some of the league's top arms will also be on display this weekend. Levi Stoudt leads the league in earned-run average and runs allowed (among league minimum qualifiers) with an ERA of 2.15 and 14 runs allowed in 37.2 innings pitched. The freshman ranks sixth in opponent batting average (.262) and seventh in strikeouts (31) among the league minimum qualifiers. Noah Song has been the top starter for Navy as he leads the league by a wide margin with 62 strikeouts and is tied for the league lead with five wins in 50.1 innings of work over eight appearances. Song ranks third in the league with a .224 opponent batting average and sixth in runs allowed with 23.
Connor Donovan has been a strong weekend starter for Lehigh as he owns a 1.93 ERA in 23.1 innings pitched through six appearances and four starts. The reigning Patriot League Pitcher of the Week has surrendered just five earned runs this season on 24 total hits and has held opponents to a .258 batting average.
Navy's Jett Meenach is the league's top reliever as he owns a league-best five saves. Meenach sports a 1.69 ERA in 21.1 innings of work through 17 appearances. He has surrendered four earned runs on 20 hits while holding opponents to a .250 batting average.
Navy owns the all-time series lead against Lehigh with a mark of 76-43 and claimed three wins in last season's four-game season series. The Mountain Hawks have not won a regular season series against the Mids since sweeping the series in 2006 in Annapolis, Md. Lehigh has never won a regular season series at home against Navy since the Mids joined the Patriot League in 1993.
Lehigh (11-20, 2-6) is coming off a much-needed victory on Tuesday which ended a three-game skid and breathed life back into a recently struggling offense. LU's 13 runs in the victory over La Salle matched the combined run total from the previous eight games. Lehigh also ended a nine-game run without a double-digit hit total and a seven-game streak without scoring in double-figures.
The Mountain Hawks hit four more home runs in Tuesday's triumph and now have seven long balls in the last two games. LU has 11 multi-home run games on the season while averaging 1.10 homers per game. Lehigh's 34 home runs is the 17th-highest total in the nation while also ranking inside the top-25 in home runs per game. LU leads the Patriot League in both home run categories.
Navy (25-12, 6-2) enters the weekend with a head of steam while riding a seven-game win streak. On that streak, the Midshipmen swept a Patriot League series against Lafayette and recorded non-league wins over Coppin State, Towson and Maryland Eastern Shore. The Mids have averaged 9.29 runs per game on an average of 12.14 hits per game with a plus-37 run differential on their recent win streak.
The defending Patriot League champions boast one of the best offenses in the nation. The Mids rank sixth nationally with a .317 batting average while ranking fourth in total hits and seventh in runs scored. Navy's .469 slugging percentage also ranks in the top-25 while owning a top-10 ranking in both doubles and triples.
The league's best offensive players will be on display this weekend when the Mids and Mountain Hawks get together. Navy hitters own the top four spots in the league in batting average and the top two spots in on-base percentage. Logan Knowles ranks third in the league with a .367 batting average while leading the league in on-base percentage (.475), runs scored (44), hits (54) and triples (5). Lehigh's big offensive gun, Jacen Nalesnik, ranks among the league leaders with a .336 batting average while leading the league in slugging percentage (.664) and home runs (9). Nalesnik also ranks third in runs scored (32) and fifth in total hits (40).
Some of the league's top arms will also be on display this weekend. Levi Stoudt leads the league in earned-run average and runs allowed (among league minimum qualifiers) with an ERA of 2.15 and 14 runs allowed in 37.2 innings pitched. The freshman ranks sixth in opponent batting average (.262) and seventh in strikeouts (31) among the league minimum qualifiers. Noah Song has been the top starter for Navy as he leads the league by a wide margin with 62 strikeouts and is tied for the league lead with five wins in 50.1 innings of work over eight appearances. Song ranks third in the league with a .224 opponent batting average and sixth in runs allowed with 23.
Connor Donovan has been a strong weekend starter for Lehigh as he owns a 1.93 ERA in 23.1 innings pitched through six appearances and four starts. The reigning Patriot League Pitcher of the Week has surrendered just five earned runs this season on 24 total hits and has held opponents to a .258 batting average.
Navy's Jett Meenach is the league's top reliever as he owns a league-best five saves. Meenach sports a 1.69 ERA in 21.1 innings of work through 17 appearances. He has surrendered four earned runs on 20 hits while holding opponents to a .250 batting average.
Navy owns the all-time series lead against Lehigh with a mark of 76-43 and claimed three wins in last season's four-game season series. The Mountain Hawks have not won a regular season series against the Mids since sweeping the series in 2006 in Annapolis, Md. Lehigh has never won a regular season series at home against Navy since the Mids joined the Patriot League in 1993.
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