Saturday, February 15
Davidson, NC
12 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Davidson
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Lehigh visits Davidson for three-game set to open season
2/13/2020 4:06:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The 2020 season is about to get underway as the Lehigh baseball team visits Davidson for a three-game set starting Friday at 6 p.m. from Wilson Field.
The Mountain Hawks ended 2019 with an overall record of 21-28 and a Patriot League mark of 9-16, ultimately being picked to finish in sixth place when the preseason poll was released a couple weeks ago.
Lehigh's starting lineup is without three key seniors from the Class of 2019 in Jeff Shanfeldt, Ryan Malloy and Thomas Schumacher, but the team is stocked up and ready to compete for positioning this season.
Back for the Mountain Hawks is preseason All-Patriot League selection Tony Gallo, who hit .321 with seven home runs, eight doubles, 42 RBIs and 17 walks in 47 games a season ago. A two-time All-Patriot League first baseman, Gallo will be considered to be a utility man for the upcoming season, with his time spent majority in right field, but also at first base, occasionally at second base.
Also back in the starting lineup is sophomore Gerard Sweeney, who had an exceptional rookie campaign for the Brown and White. He finished third on the team in batting average (.289), leading all his fellow rookie teammates, also chipping in 52 hits, 11 doubles, two homers and 32 RBIs with 29 walks for an OBP of .395 in 48 games, all spent at the hot corner of third base. Sweeney will spend a majority of his time batting between the leadoff and two-hole spots in the order.
With Shanfeldt graduated, the Mountain Hawks are excited to welcome the services of freshman catcher Adam Retzbach to the fold, most recently named Patriot League Preseason Rookie of the Year by Perfect Game. Retzbach offers pop in his bat and the strong ability to call a game from behind the plate.
Another freshman to keep an eye on in the order this weekend at Davidson is Zack Miles, who has the fielding ability to split time between playing second base and shortstop right away.
The more exciting trait of this Lehigh team is the pitching staff, as sophomore right-hander Mason Black (3-0, 4.36 ERA) and lefty Luke Rettig (2-4, 4.68 ERA) will begin the season as the front-of-the-line pitchers for the starting rotation. Black had a slow start to the 2019 campaign due to injury, but bounced back late in the season before having an exceptional summer with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Black's last start for Lehigh was a complete game performance against Holy Cross at Walker Field, where he struck out eight batters, allowing just two runs on five hits.
Junior righty Matt Svanson (1-5, 6.42) is another hurler to look out for this season for the Mountain Hawks, who could either be a member of the starting rotation or come out of the bullpen as the team's closer, similar to Ethan Frohman was in the past.
These opening weekend series are tough to predict as of past years for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh last won a season opening game back in 2017 against Fairleigh Dickinson by a score of 16-8. Since 2010, the Mountain Hawks are 5-5 in season openers.
Davidson comes into the 2020 season after a 29-22 2019 season where the Wildcats fell to Dayton in the Atlantic 10 semifinals a season ago.
The Wildcats return six starters to the lineup this season led by senior Brett Centracchio, starter of 127 career games including 51 at first base in 2019. Senior Matt Frey will spend time at second base, who had a 41-game reached base streak last season. Junior designated hitter Ruben Fontes led the A-10 with 14 home runs las season.
Like Lehigh, who led the Patriot League with 38 home runs a season ago, Davidson led the A-10 with 67 homers last year, returners contributing 46 of them.
On the mound, sophomore Gabe Levy had an exceptional freshman season with a 2.57 ERA in 49 innings pitched. He recorded 11 saves out of the bullpen and will start this season in a new role for the team. Joining Levy in the starting rotation will be sophomores Alex Fenton and Blake Hely.
The Mountain Hawks are 5-3 all-time against Davidson with the last matchup occurring in the 2018 season. Lehigh took two of three from the Wildcats in that series Mar. 2-4.
Friday's 6 p.m. game will be available through a live audio stream, while Saturday's 2 p.m. start will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
The Mountain Hawks ended 2019 with an overall record of 21-28 and a Patriot League mark of 9-16, ultimately being picked to finish in sixth place when the preseason poll was released a couple weeks ago.
Lehigh's starting lineup is without three key seniors from the Class of 2019 in Jeff Shanfeldt, Ryan Malloy and Thomas Schumacher, but the team is stocked up and ready to compete for positioning this season.
Back for the Mountain Hawks is preseason All-Patriot League selection Tony Gallo, who hit .321 with seven home runs, eight doubles, 42 RBIs and 17 walks in 47 games a season ago. A two-time All-Patriot League first baseman, Gallo will be considered to be a utility man for the upcoming season, with his time spent majority in right field, but also at first base, occasionally at second base.
Also back in the starting lineup is sophomore Gerard Sweeney, who had an exceptional rookie campaign for the Brown and White. He finished third on the team in batting average (.289), leading all his fellow rookie teammates, also chipping in 52 hits, 11 doubles, two homers and 32 RBIs with 29 walks for an OBP of .395 in 48 games, all spent at the hot corner of third base. Sweeney will spend a majority of his time batting between the leadoff and two-hole spots in the order.
With Shanfeldt graduated, the Mountain Hawks are excited to welcome the services of freshman catcher Adam Retzbach to the fold, most recently named Patriot League Preseason Rookie of the Year by Perfect Game. Retzbach offers pop in his bat and the strong ability to call a game from behind the plate.
Another freshman to keep an eye on in the order this weekend at Davidson is Zack Miles, who has the fielding ability to split time between playing second base and shortstop right away.
The more exciting trait of this Lehigh team is the pitching staff, as sophomore right-hander Mason Black (3-0, 4.36 ERA) and lefty Luke Rettig (2-4, 4.68 ERA) will begin the season as the front-of-the-line pitchers for the starting rotation. Black had a slow start to the 2019 campaign due to injury, but bounced back late in the season before having an exceptional summer with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Black's last start for Lehigh was a complete game performance against Holy Cross at Walker Field, where he struck out eight batters, allowing just two runs on five hits.
Junior righty Matt Svanson (1-5, 6.42) is another hurler to look out for this season for the Mountain Hawks, who could either be a member of the starting rotation or come out of the bullpen as the team's closer, similar to Ethan Frohman was in the past.
These opening weekend series are tough to predict as of past years for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh last won a season opening game back in 2017 against Fairleigh Dickinson by a score of 16-8. Since 2010, the Mountain Hawks are 5-5 in season openers.
Davidson comes into the 2020 season after a 29-22 2019 season where the Wildcats fell to Dayton in the Atlantic 10 semifinals a season ago.
The Wildcats return six starters to the lineup this season led by senior Brett Centracchio, starter of 127 career games including 51 at first base in 2019. Senior Matt Frey will spend time at second base, who had a 41-game reached base streak last season. Junior designated hitter Ruben Fontes led the A-10 with 14 home runs las season.
Like Lehigh, who led the Patriot League with 38 home runs a season ago, Davidson led the A-10 with 67 homers last year, returners contributing 46 of them.
On the mound, sophomore Gabe Levy had an exceptional freshman season with a 2.57 ERA in 49 innings pitched. He recorded 11 saves out of the bullpen and will start this season in a new role for the team. Joining Levy in the starting rotation will be sophomores Alex Fenton and Blake Hely.
The Mountain Hawks are 5-3 all-time against Davidson with the last matchup occurring in the 2018 season. Lehigh took two of three from the Wildcats in that series Mar. 2-4.
Friday's 6 p.m. game will be available through a live audio stream, while Saturday's 2 p.m. start will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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