Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh University
17-24
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
8-31
Mountain Hawks Soar Over Eastern Shore in Wednesday Doubleheader
4/26/2017 9:22:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Mountain Hawks extended their season-long win streak to seven games with a doubleheader sweep of Maryland Eastern Shore by scores of 10-4 and 12-6 on Wednesday at J. David Walker Field. The seven-game win streak is tied the program's longest win streak since a 10-game win streak in 1984. Additionally, LU has won its last five non-league games at home.
Leadoff man Chris Kersey had a big day offensively as he led the team with four hits on a pair of multi-hit games as went a combined 4-for-6. The center fielder scored three times and totaled a combined five RBI. The junior has had the hottest bat as of late, hitting a team-best .452 in the last 10 games with a .742 slugging percentage and a .537 on-base percentage.
Connor Donovan also had five RBI on the day, but they all came in game two after he sealed the win with a grand slam in the seventh inning. The senior went a combined 3-for-6 with three runs scored on the day and the five RBI tie his career-high originally set in 2015.
Lehigh (18-24) put Eastern Shore (8-32) in a hole early in game one with a five-run second inning. Matt Hand starting the second inning scoring outburst with a two-RBI single to center and Kersey capped the scoring with his two-run homer to left. LU tacked on four more runs in the fourth inning with a two-run double by James Bleming and a two-RBI single by Patrick Donnelly.
The run support went well with the stellar pitching performance by game one starter Cole McManimon who tossed 5.0 innings. The sophomore allowed just one run on five hits and tied his season-high with four strikeouts as he faced 23 batters. McManimon is 2-3 on the season.
Eastern Shore jumped out a 4-0 lead in the first inning of game two, beginning the game with a leadoff triple by Tyler Friis. The Hawks would rack up three more hits in the top half of the inning to go along with two walks.
The Mountain Hawks started to chip away with runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The middle relief effort by Anthony Morrone and Adam Hilal stalled the opposing offense, which set the table for the LU comeback. Morrone allowed just two runs in 3.0 innings with a career-high six strikeouts. Hilal tossed 2.1 scoreless innings with one hit and one strikeout.
After tying the game in the sixth, Lehigh took the lead and shut the door on Eastern Shore with six runs in the seventh to go ahead 12-6. Bleming recorded the go-ahead RBI as he singled to center to score Chris Butera. Kersey extended the lead as he scored on a pass ball and then Donovan closed it out with his no doubt grand slam to right field.
Sam Ashey collected the win in game two as he threw 2.1 scoreless innings. The junior lefty surrendered just one hit with one walk and two strikeouts on 25 total pitches. Ashey is now 2-2 on the season.
The Mountain Hawks will return to action when they host Army West Point in a pivotal Patriot League series beginning Saturday at Walker Field. Game one of the four-game series is slated for a 12 p.m. start time.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ashey, Sam (2-2)
L: MARSHALL, Dwayne (0-3)
Batting:
2B: SOMERVILLE, Justin 1
3B: FRIIS, Tyler 1 ; WESLEY, Jordan 1
RBI: TROWER, Jamison 1 ; SOMERVILLE, Justin 1 ; NICASTRO, Joey 1 ; WESLEY, Jordan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: FRIIS, Tyler 1 ; CHAMBERS, Isaiah 1 ; MARTIN, Jordan 1 ; TROWER, Jamison 1 ; SOMERVILLE, Justin 2
SB: FRIIS, Tyler 2 ; CHAMBERS, Isaiah 1 ; SOMERVILLE, Justin 2 ; WESLEY, Jordan 1
Batting:
2B: Bleming, James 1
HR: Donovan, Connor 1
RBI: Kersey, Chris 2 ; Bleming, James 1 ; Young, David 1 ; Donovan, Connor 5 ; Shanfeldt, Jeff 2
SF: Kersey, Chris 1 ; Young, David 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kersey, Chris 1 ; Bleming, James 2 ; Nalesnik, Jacen 2 ; Donnelly, Patrick 1 ; Young, David 2 ; Donovan, Connor 2 ; Schumacher, Thomas 1 ; Butera, Chris 1
SB: Bleming, James 1
CS: Kersey, Chris 1
HBP: Bleming, James 1 ; Donovan, Connor 1 ; Rinaldi, Anthony 1
