Lehigh Edged by Bucknell in Rubber Match of Weekend Set

Sunday, April 22

Lewisburg, Pa.

1 p.m.

Lehigh University

15-23, 0

Bucknell University

14-23, 0

Lehigh

Bucknell

Lehigh Edged by Bucknell in Rubber Match of Weekend Set

4/22/2018 5:15:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa. – After a superb rebound effort in game two on Saturday to even up the series, the Mountain Hawks fell, 4-1, in the rubber match of the three-game weekend set at Bucknell on Sunday afternoon. Lehigh is now 15-23 overall with a record of 5-12 in the Patriot League. The Bison improve to 14-23 overall, 11-9 in league play.

After each starting pitcher surrendered runs in the early innings, the bull pens took over and kept the game close the rest of the way. Matt Ratner was the first man up in relief for Lehigh and tossed three-straight scoreless innings before allow a pair of runs in the sixth.

Following a base hit in the third inning to the first batter he faced, Ratner went on to retire seven of the next eight batters before allowing a lead-off single to start the sixth inning. The Bison tacked on an RBI-double followed by an RBI-triple in the sixth as Ratner's outing came to a close.

The Mountain Hawks loaded the bases in the fourth inning and forced an early exit for Bucknell starter Jack Grabek. In to clean up the mess left by Grabek was reliever Jack Simpson who got out of the jam with an inning-ending strikeout. Lehigh threatened with a runner in scoring position again in the fifth inning, but Simpson worked out of the jam unscathed yet again.

Simpson's ability to work out of back-to-back jams proved to be a critical factor in Bucknell's victory as he did not allow another runner to reach scoring position and retired eight of the final nine batters he faced.

Brenden Tuttle took over for Simpson to start the ninth and sealed the win with three-straight strikeouts as he collected his fourth save of the season.

Lehigh also received a strong effort down the stretch from its bull pen. Chris Butera entered in the sixth inning after Bucknell had already scored two runs. The junior righty managed to minimize the damage as he worked out of inning and left two runners stranded in scoring position. Matt Hand started the seventh and tossed a shutout the final 2.0 innings with three strikeouts.

The Mountain Hawks gave their pitchers another solid effort defensively. Lehigh turned two more double plays to bring the weekend total to seven. The defense also played another error-free game, extended its season-long streak to four-straight games without an error.

Lehigh will now embark on a six-game home stand with a pair of non-league midweek matchups against St. Joseph's on Tuesday and Coppin State on Wednesday. The Mountain Hawks will then host final weekend games of the season with a doubleheader against Navy on Saturday, followed by a doubleheader against Bucknell on Sunday.