Saturday, April 20
Bethlehem, PA.
1 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Bucknell
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Lehigh set to host Bucknell in three pivotal league games this weekend
4/19/2019 1:04:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — After winning its last two games, the Lehigh baseball team turns its attention to Bucknell for three games this weekend in an effort to continue to improve its Patriot League standing. The Bison visit J. David Walker Field for the first time this season in a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday and a single game Sunday also scheduled to start at noon. All three games will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network.
The Mountain Hawks are coming off important league victories over Navy on Sunday and Lafayette on Wednesday after taking both by a combined 28 to 5. Lehigh's offense has been off the rails in the last month of the season, currently averaging 6.9 runs/game and 8.8 hits/game, paced by seniors Ryan Malloy and Jeff Shanfeldt, as well as freshman third baseman Gerard Sweeney, who leads his teammates in league batting average by a considerable margin, currently hitting with a .357 clip in those 14 games.
Malloy still leads all Lehigh players with a .343 (46-for-134) batting average, currently second in the Patriot League behind Navy's Zach Stevens (.360), but Shanfeldt isn't all that far behind. The catcher is hitting .325 (40-for-123) on the season with 12 doubles, five home runs and a team-high 39 RBIs. Shanfeldt helped his case as one of the offensive leaders of the squad with his 4-for-6, two double, one homer and six RBI performance against the Leopards on Wednesday, in what could be his final game against the archrivals.
Both Malloy and Shanfeldt have an OPS of over 1.000, at 1.052 and 1.021, respectively. Malloy continues to lead the Mountain Hawks in home runs with eight so far, as well as total bases (86). The left fielder's slugging percentage of .642 is still the Patriot League's highest so far this season.
Junior first baseman Tony Gallo hasn't had prolific success like his senior teammates have had this season, but it would be a disservice to not mention how well the reigning All-Patriot League selection has played this season, currently hitting .298 (37-for-124) with seven doubles, three home runs and 29 RBIs. He has a slugging percentage of .444 and an on-base percentage of .371.
Sweeney has also had incredible success at the plate this season, especially for a freshman getting his first looks at the collegiate level. The Shipley School product is hitting .290 (38-for-131) on the year with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 24 TBIs, while walking 23 times for an OBP of .401.
Sweeney, along with Gallo, Shanfeldt and Malloy make the Mountain Hawks' top half of the lineup one of the most dangerous in the Patriot League.
The Mountain Hawks as a team continue to be the league's best run-scoring team, fighting neck-and-neck with Navy for the distinction. The two teams are tied with RBIs at 229, while Lehigh leads the Patriot League in doubles (68) and is tied for the lead in home runs (28).
The Mountain Hawks' pitching has really come on in the last week or so, with a team ERA of 2.86 in the last five games. Also in that stretch, opposing hitters are hitting just .243 against Lehigh's arms.
Junior right-hander Levi Stoudt is scheduled to take the hill for the first game of the series with the Bison on Saturday, and he dominated Navy last weekend in his start. Stoudt got the no decision, going seven shutout innings, allowing just six hits and struck out eight batters. Senior left-hander Ethan Frohman got the Game 1 start, striking out eight, but allowed four earned runs to get dealt his first loss of the year.
Freshman lefty Luke Rettig should be back on the mound this weekend for Lehigh after earning Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors, going 6 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and only one walk in the Mountain Hawks' 16-4 victory over the first place Midshipmen on Sunday.
Bucknell comes into the weekend searching for some kind of success after having a very tough season, currently 3-15 in the Patriot League. The Bison have dropped their last four games and does not have a Patriot League victory since beating Army West Point, 7-6 back on Mar. 31 in Lewisburg.
The Bison are led by JohnPaul Bell at the plate, currently hitting .333 despite only playing in 28 of Bucknell's 38 games this season. Dominic Toso leads the team in hits with 40 and is hitting .290 in his 37 starts this year, while Tyler Wincig is leading the majority of his team's power numbers this season with six home runs and a slugging percentage of .598. Wincig is also pretty good at working a count against opposing pitchers, as one of the Bison's leaders in walks with 20 so far and an on-base percentage of .470.
On the mound, Bucknell reliever Hunter Robichaux has been dominant, with a 2.84 ERA in 14 appearances and 31 2/3 innings of work. The Bison's main starting rotation of Jeff Gottesman (6.94 ERA), Jack Simpson (7.90) and Jack Grabek (10.34) have struggled to find success on the mound this season and will look to gain control back this weekend against Lehigh, currently trailing the Mountain Hawks by six games for fifth place.
All-time, the Bison lead the series 99-84 with the Mountain Hawks claiming the last matchup back on Apr. 29, 2018, 5-4 at Walker Field.
The first 25 fans to Saturday's doubleheader with Bucknell will receive a free $5 ticket book to Knoebel's.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
The Mountain Hawks are coming off important league victories over Navy on Sunday and Lafayette on Wednesday after taking both by a combined 28 to 5. Lehigh's offense has been off the rails in the last month of the season, currently averaging 6.9 runs/game and 8.8 hits/game, paced by seniors Ryan Malloy and Jeff Shanfeldt, as well as freshman third baseman Gerard Sweeney, who leads his teammates in league batting average by a considerable margin, currently hitting with a .357 clip in those 14 games.
Malloy still leads all Lehigh players with a .343 (46-for-134) batting average, currently second in the Patriot League behind Navy's Zach Stevens (.360), but Shanfeldt isn't all that far behind. The catcher is hitting .325 (40-for-123) on the season with 12 doubles, five home runs and a team-high 39 RBIs. Shanfeldt helped his case as one of the offensive leaders of the squad with his 4-for-6, two double, one homer and six RBI performance against the Leopards on Wednesday, in what could be his final game against the archrivals.
Both Malloy and Shanfeldt have an OPS of over 1.000, at 1.052 and 1.021, respectively. Malloy continues to lead the Mountain Hawks in home runs with eight so far, as well as total bases (86). The left fielder's slugging percentage of .642 is still the Patriot League's highest so far this season.
Junior first baseman Tony Gallo hasn't had prolific success like his senior teammates have had this season, but it would be a disservice to not mention how well the reigning All-Patriot League selection has played this season, currently hitting .298 (37-for-124) with seven doubles, three home runs and 29 RBIs. He has a slugging percentage of .444 and an on-base percentage of .371.
Sweeney has also had incredible success at the plate this season, especially for a freshman getting his first looks at the collegiate level. The Shipley School product is hitting .290 (38-for-131) on the year with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 24 TBIs, while walking 23 times for an OBP of .401.
Sweeney, along with Gallo, Shanfeldt and Malloy make the Mountain Hawks' top half of the lineup one of the most dangerous in the Patriot League.
The Mountain Hawks as a team continue to be the league's best run-scoring team, fighting neck-and-neck with Navy for the distinction. The two teams are tied with RBIs at 229, while Lehigh leads the Patriot League in doubles (68) and is tied for the lead in home runs (28).
The Mountain Hawks' pitching has really come on in the last week or so, with a team ERA of 2.86 in the last five games. Also in that stretch, opposing hitters are hitting just .243 against Lehigh's arms.
Junior right-hander Levi Stoudt is scheduled to take the hill for the first game of the series with the Bison on Saturday, and he dominated Navy last weekend in his start. Stoudt got the no decision, going seven shutout innings, allowing just six hits and struck out eight batters. Senior left-hander Ethan Frohman got the Game 1 start, striking out eight, but allowed four earned runs to get dealt his first loss of the year.
Freshman lefty Luke Rettig should be back on the mound this weekend for Lehigh after earning Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors, going 6 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and only one walk in the Mountain Hawks' 16-4 victory over the first place Midshipmen on Sunday.
Bucknell comes into the weekend searching for some kind of success after having a very tough season, currently 3-15 in the Patriot League. The Bison have dropped their last four games and does not have a Patriot League victory since beating Army West Point, 7-6 back on Mar. 31 in Lewisburg.
The Bison are led by JohnPaul Bell at the plate, currently hitting .333 despite only playing in 28 of Bucknell's 38 games this season. Dominic Toso leads the team in hits with 40 and is hitting .290 in his 37 starts this year, while Tyler Wincig is leading the majority of his team's power numbers this season with six home runs and a slugging percentage of .598. Wincig is also pretty good at working a count against opposing pitchers, as one of the Bison's leaders in walks with 20 so far and an on-base percentage of .470.
On the mound, Bucknell reliever Hunter Robichaux has been dominant, with a 2.84 ERA in 14 appearances and 31 2/3 innings of work. The Bison's main starting rotation of Jeff Gottesman (6.94 ERA), Jack Simpson (7.90) and Jack Grabek (10.34) have struggled to find success on the mound this season and will look to gain control back this weekend against Lehigh, currently trailing the Mountain Hawks by six games for fifth place.
All-time, the Bison lead the series 99-84 with the Mountain Hawks claiming the last matchup back on Apr. 29, 2018, 5-4 at Walker Field.
The first 25 fans to Saturday's doubleheader with Bucknell will receive a free $5 ticket book to Knoebel's.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Players Mentioned
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