Wednesday, March 4
Bethlehem, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
3-8
4
vs
5
Coppin State
3-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Coppin State
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
0
5
8
1
Lehigh
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
0
0
4
8
3
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Lehigh narrowly defeated by Coppin State in home opener
3/4/2020 6:06:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Wednesday's home opener had a little bit of everything, from pitching to clutch hitting, but ultimately, it wasn't enough for Lehigh baseball to come out clean with the victory, falling 5-4 to Coppin State at J. David Walker Field.
The game was highlighted by a three-hit performance for sophomore third baseman Gerard Sweeney and a go-ahead two-run double for senior Tony Gallo, which turned out to be his 100th career hit in a Lehigh uniform.
"This team fights to the end," said head coach Sean Leary. "We just didn't execute very well today with runners in scoring position. We're giving teams extra outs and they're taking advantage of it. Overall we just have to be a little sharper.
"We have to be better with our execution, we believe in the guys that we have out there, we just fell a little short."
Sophomore right-hander Casey Rother made his first career start on the mound for the Mountain Hawks and pitched fairly well in his three innings of work, despite Coppin State getting its first run of the game in the top of the first inning on a double to right field.
The Eagles added on to their lead in the top of the fourth inning with freshman Ryan Deom pitching, getting another RBI double to right field, followed by an RBI single to right to extend CSU's lead to 3-0.
The bottom of the fifth marked the first runs of the afternoon for the Mountain Hawks, starting when senior Matt Hand reached base after getting hit by a pitch. After Jake Kochmansky popped up, Hand advanced to second on a wild pitch.
With two outs in the inning, freshman Zack Miles delivered a knock to left field, scoring Hand to put Lehigh on the board, trailing 3-1. Senior Tony Gallo then walked on a full count, advancing Miles and bring up Rother to the plate as the designated hitter. On a 2-2 count, Rother tripled to center field, bringing Miles and Gallo around to score to tie the game up at 3.
Gallo provided the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning when he doubled to right center field, scoring Miles to put Lehigh ahead, 4-3. That ultimately completed the comeback with four unanswered runs.
With Cameron Van Hoorebeke pitching for Lehigh, Coppin State tied things up in the top of the eighth inning on a one-out triple from Justin Oakley, who was pinch hitting.
A Caden Walton single in the same inning scored Oakley to push the Eagles ahead, 5-4.
The bottom of the ninth proved to be the final chance for Lehigh, trying to walk-off in the very first game of 2020 at Walker Field. With a 3-2 count, Kochmansky drew the leadoff walk in the inning. Sweeney doubled down the left field line on another 3-2 count, advancing Kochmansky over to third base.
After Miles was retired on strikes, the Eagles intentionally walked Gallo to load the bases. Coppin State effectively recorded two punchouts to end the inning and pick up the road victory.
With the loss, Lehigh falls to 3-8 to open the campaign, falling in a home opener for the second consecutive season.
Van Hoorebeke was charged with the loss, his second of the season, but freshman right-hander Will Grisack had a strong relief outing, throwing 1.2 innings of scoreless ball, with no hits and three strikeouts while facing six batters.
"I thought we did a pretty nice job on the mound today," said Leary. "Will did an awesome job finishing that ballgame and we had a pretty strong start out of Casey today.
"We were a little short today and he goes out there and gets us nine outs and a pretty good shot to win the game."
Sweeney went 3-for-5 with a double to lead the way for the Mountain Hawks, while five teammates each recorded a single hit. Rother went 1-for-5, but had a two-RBI triple, while Gallo went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and two walks.
"We want to play these midweek games to win, but we also want to play these games to learn," Leary said. "We're learning a lot about ourselves, our starters and our lineup."
The Mountain Hawks head back on the road this weekend for a three-game series at North Carolina A&T. First pitch Friday afternoon is set for 4 p.m. from Greensboro, N.C.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Gallery: (3/4/2020) Baseball vs. Coppin State, 3/4/20
The game was highlighted by a three-hit performance for sophomore third baseman Gerard Sweeney and a go-ahead two-run double for senior Tony Gallo, which turned out to be his 100th career hit in a Lehigh uniform.
"This team fights to the end," said head coach Sean Leary. "We just didn't execute very well today with runners in scoring position. We're giving teams extra outs and they're taking advantage of it. Overall we just have to be a little sharper.
"We have to be better with our execution, we believe in the guys that we have out there, we just fell a little short."
Sophomore right-hander Casey Rother made his first career start on the mound for the Mountain Hawks and pitched fairly well in his three innings of work, despite Coppin State getting its first run of the game in the top of the first inning on a double to right field.
The Eagles added on to their lead in the top of the fourth inning with freshman Ryan Deom pitching, getting another RBI double to right field, followed by an RBI single to right to extend CSU's lead to 3-0.
The bottom of the fifth marked the first runs of the afternoon for the Mountain Hawks, starting when senior Matt Hand reached base after getting hit by a pitch. After Jake Kochmansky popped up, Hand advanced to second on a wild pitch.
With two outs in the inning, freshman Zack Miles delivered a knock to left field, scoring Hand to put Lehigh on the board, trailing 3-1. Senior Tony Gallo then walked on a full count, advancing Miles and bring up Rother to the plate as the designated hitter. On a 2-2 count, Rother tripled to center field, bringing Miles and Gallo around to score to tie the game up at 3.
Gallo provided the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning when he doubled to right center field, scoring Miles to put Lehigh ahead, 4-3. That ultimately completed the comeback with four unanswered runs.
With Cameron Van Hoorebeke pitching for Lehigh, Coppin State tied things up in the top of the eighth inning on a one-out triple from Justin Oakley, who was pinch hitting.
A Caden Walton single in the same inning scored Oakley to push the Eagles ahead, 5-4.
The bottom of the ninth proved to be the final chance for Lehigh, trying to walk-off in the very first game of 2020 at Walker Field. With a 3-2 count, Kochmansky drew the leadoff walk in the inning. Sweeney doubled down the left field line on another 3-2 count, advancing Kochmansky over to third base.
After Miles was retired on strikes, the Eagles intentionally walked Gallo to load the bases. Coppin State effectively recorded two punchouts to end the inning and pick up the road victory.
With the loss, Lehigh falls to 3-8 to open the campaign, falling in a home opener for the second consecutive season.
Van Hoorebeke was charged with the loss, his second of the season, but freshman right-hander Will Grisack had a strong relief outing, throwing 1.2 innings of scoreless ball, with no hits and three strikeouts while facing six batters.
"I thought we did a pretty nice job on the mound today," said Leary. "Will did an awesome job finishing that ballgame and we had a pretty strong start out of Casey today.
"We were a little short today and he goes out there and gets us nine outs and a pretty good shot to win the game."
Sweeney went 3-for-5 with a double to lead the way for the Mountain Hawks, while five teammates each recorded a single hit. Rother went 1-for-5, but had a two-RBI triple, while Gallo went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and two walks.
"We want to play these midweek games to win, but we also want to play these games to learn," Leary said. "We're learning a lot about ourselves, our starters and our lineup."
The Mountain Hawks head back on the road this weekend for a three-game series at North Carolina A&T. First pitch Friday afternoon is set for 4 p.m. from Greensboro, N.C.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: TREYES,Corey (1-0)
L: Van Hoorebeke, Cameron (0-2)
S: TUTTLE,Bradley (3)
Batting:
2B: BANKS,Justin 1 ; WALKER,Conner 1 ; NOBLE,Lawrence 1
3B: OAKLEY,Justin 1
RBI: WALKER,Conner 1 ; NOBLE,Lawrence 1 ; OAKLEY,Justin 1 ; WALTON,Caden 2
SH: DAY,Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BANKS,Justin 2 ; WALKER,Conner 1 ; NOBLE,Lawrence 1 ; OAKLEY,Justin 1
CS: CASTILLO,Marcos 1
HBP: GERULA,Cole 1
PO: GERULA,Cole 1
Batting:
2B: Sweeney, Gerard 1 ; Gallo, Tony 1
3B: Rother, Casey 1
RBI: Miles, Zack 1 ; Gallo, Tony 1 ; Rother, Casey 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Miles, Zack 2 ; Gallo, Tony 1 ; Hand, Matt 1
CS: Sweeney, Gerard 1
HBP: Hand, Matt 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
p/dh
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF/1B
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RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball1B/RHP
/ Baseball3B
/ Baseball
LHP
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