Bucknell Takes Series From Lehigh with Sunday Sweep

Sunday, April 2

Bethlehem, PA

12 p.m.

Lehigh University

9-15, 1-2

Bucknell University

11-13, 2-1

Bucknell

Lehigh

Bucknell Takes Series From Lehigh with Sunday Sweep

4/2/2017 6:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Coming out of a stellar offensive performance in game two on Saturday, the Lehigh bats faltered on Sunday and allowed Bucknell to sweep the Sunday twin bill and take the series from the Mountain Hawks. The Bison held off a seventh-inning comeback attempt by Lehigh to win game on, 3-2, and then shutout LU, 8-0, in game two.

Lehigh (9-16, 1-3) posted a combined eight hits on the day, including a season-low three hits in game one. Bucknell (12-13, 3-1) relied on its defense to make plays as the Bison pitching staff only managed to record a combined three strikeouts on a day where they held an offense to just two total runs.

A double by Connor Donovan to lead off the fourth inning in game one was the first hit for Lehigh on the day and held up as one of two extra-base hits for the Brown and White in Sunday's doubleheader. Bucknell's Jeff Gottesman went 6.2 innings in game one and allowed just two hits and two runners to reach scoring position prior to the seventh inning.

Lehigh put two of its first three batters on to start the seventh inning as both were hit by pitches. David Young stepped up and knocked a single into left to Score Jeff Shanfeldt and cut the deficit to 3-1.

Bucknell brought in Mike Stephens to get the final out, but he ended up walking the next two batters and walked in a second run as Lehigh trailed 3-2. Stephens buckled down and forced a groundout back to himself to end the game with the bases loaded.

Gottesman earned the win in game one as he went 6.2 innings and gave up two runs on three hits with two walks and just one strikeout on 113 pitches.

Levi Stoudt received the loss for Lehigh as he tossed 5.1 innings and surrendered just three runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

The Bison went to work early in game two by putting up a run again in the first inning with a homer by JohnPaul Bell. The Bison broke open a 6-0 lead after a four-run sixth inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double by Tyler Wincig.

Bucknell tacked on two more homers in the seventh inning to take an 8-0 lead. The Bison nearly matched their season total for home runs as they entered the day with just four long balls.

The Mountain Hawks finished game two with just five hits and did not have a runner in scoring position until the seventh inning. Shanfeldt's double in the ninth inning was the team's only extra-base hit for the game.

Mike Castellani earned the win in game two for the Bison as he pitched the full nine innings. The lefty faced 32 batters and tossed 108 pitches with just two strikeouts.

Cole McManimon was credited with the loss as he went 4.0 innings and gave up two runs on four hits.

The Mountain Hawks wrap up their 11-game home stand on Tuesday when the host Rider at 3 p.m. as part of the Liberty Bell Classic.