First Inning Powers NYIT Past Lehigh

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – A six-run first inning proved to be the difference as New York Institute of Technology held off a comeback effort by Lehigh in a 6-4 decision on Wednesday afternoon on Long Island.

The Mountain Hawks (9-17) struck first as Patrick Donnelly put the ball in play and reached on a fielder's choice to move in James Bleming from third. After holding a brief lead, Lehigh saw NYIT (3-19-1) hang six runs on the board in the bottom first inning and never look back.

The Bears compiled seven hits in the first inning and the first four batters reached base before the first out was recorded. NYIT did most of their damage in the inning with a trio of RBI doubles, which helped produce five of the seven runs.

Lehigh got one run back in the third inning with a bases loaded walk, but an inning-ending strikeout out prevented any further damage with the bases juiced. LU put the first two runners on in the sixth and got one in on a John Scarr single to right with no outs. Following a pitching change, the Bears recorded back-to-back strikeouts and a fielder's choice to end the inning with minimal hurt.

After Scarr lined out into an unfortunate double play two batters into the eighth inning, Chris Kersey provided a spark with solo shot to left field for his first homer of the season and cut the deficit to two runs. The Bears managed to hold on for the win, but not before a ninth inning scare. Connor Donovan stroked a two-out doubled to move Jacen Nalesnik to third, but NYIT got out of the jam by recording a strikeout to end the game.

The Mountain Hawks will look to breakout of their tree-game slump, but face a tough task as they head up to Holy Cross for a four-game Patriot League series with the Crusaders beginning on Saturday.

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Team Stats

Jacen Nalesnik

Chris Kersey

James Bleming

Patrick Donnelly

Players Mentioned

James Bleming

Patrick Donnelly

Connor Donovan

Chris Kersey

Jacen Nalesnik

John Scarr

Lehigh University Athletics

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