Tuesday, February 27
Newark, Del.
3:00 PM
Lehigh University
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University of Delaware
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Lehigh
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Delaware
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Photo by: Maria Bouchard
Lehigh Holds Off Late Delaware Push To Win 10-9
2/27/2024 8:03:00 PM | Baseball
NEWARK, Del. – Only a day removed from their three-game series at Charleston Southern, Lehigh baseball returned to action for a midweek tilt against the Delaware Blue Hens on Tuesday afternoon. A strong effort in the final two innings nearly tied the game for the Blue Hens, but the Mountain Hawks held strong to win 10-9.
Picking up the win was right-handed sophomore Shane O'Neill, who tossed 3.2 innings while striking out six. He entered in relief for starter Najir Glenn, who struck out four batters to only one hit in 3.1 innings of action. The losing pitcher was Nate Rolka, who started the afternoon for Delaware despite only throwing 2.0 innings.
"Najir gave us a strong effort today and put us in a great position," said head coach Sean Leary on his starting pitcher.
Lehigh's offense got things started on a strong note, as the team loaded the bases through their first three batters. Justin Butler grounded out from the four spot in the next at bat, but brought home a run in the process to take an early lead. Two batters later, Andrew Kohl doubled home first-year Braydon Hubbard to set the score 2-0 in favor of the Mountain Hawks after the opening frame.
After the Blue Hens went scoreless while leaving two on base in the first, they were able to cut into the Mountain Hawk lead in the second. Jake Dunion crossed home plate for Delaware off of an error to cut the Lehigh lead to one. This wouldn't last long, as Rafe Perich's solo homer in the top of third once again put the Mountain Hawks up by two.
The Blue Hens pulled their starter at the conclusion of the second inning and did so again after the third, sending out Alex Tawa to the mound for the fourth inning. After walking the first two batters, Delaware made another switch just in time for Riley Davis to come to the plate. He reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second base on a throwing error, which in turn scored Tyler Young. After walking another batter, Jake Whitlinger singled Davis home, making way for a Perich double to send two more runs across the plate.
Now leading 7-1, Lehigh turned to O'Neill on the mound in the bottom of the fourth. He allowed no runs in the fourth but allowed a solo shot in the fifth that gave the Blue Hens their second run of the afternoon. The Mountain Hawks would add two more runs in the sixth thanks to a bases loaded walk and hit by pitch, setting the score at 9-2 with three innings left to play.
A scoreless seventh left Delaware with only six outs to orchestrate a comeback. They did just that in the eighth, quickly cutting their deficit to four with back-to-back home runs from Josearmando Diaz and Andrew Amato. First-year Andrew Noone responded in the top of the ninth with his first-collegiate homer to extend Lehigh's lead to five.
Perich, who had taken the mound in relief of O'Neill, was replaced by first-year Grady Golier after loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth. The first-year walked his first batter with the bases loaded followed by an Amato double that set the score at 10-8 with only one out on the board. Dunion grounded out into an RBI to set the Blue Hens only one run away from tying the game with two outs. However, Golier forced Bryce Greenly to ground out in the next at bat to earn the save and seal the victory for his team.
Whitlinger finished the day batting 4-5 with two runs scored and an RBI while Hubbard hit an efficient 3-5 from the two spot. Joining them with hits was Perich, who went 2-2 with three RBIs, as well as Young and Noone who each tallied one hit on the day.
"Whit and Perich both had tremendous days," said Leary. "Whit continues to provide a big spark for us."
"Our first-years made big contributions tonight," said Leary. "Hubbard and Noone provided key run production and Golier showed grit getting us the final outs."
The Mountain Hawks will return south for a three-game series with Queens University of Charlotte this upcoming weekend. A doubleheader will be played on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. followed by another noon start time for game three on Sunday.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Picking up the win was right-handed sophomore Shane O'Neill, who tossed 3.2 innings while striking out six. He entered in relief for starter Najir Glenn, who struck out four batters to only one hit in 3.1 innings of action. The losing pitcher was Nate Rolka, who started the afternoon for Delaware despite only throwing 2.0 innings.
"Najir gave us a strong effort today and put us in a great position," said head coach Sean Leary on his starting pitcher.
Lehigh's offense got things started on a strong note, as the team loaded the bases through their first three batters. Justin Butler grounded out from the four spot in the next at bat, but brought home a run in the process to take an early lead. Two batters later, Andrew Kohl doubled home first-year Braydon Hubbard to set the score 2-0 in favor of the Mountain Hawks after the opening frame.
After the Blue Hens went scoreless while leaving two on base in the first, they were able to cut into the Mountain Hawk lead in the second. Jake Dunion crossed home plate for Delaware off of an error to cut the Lehigh lead to one. This wouldn't last long, as Rafe Perich's solo homer in the top of third once again put the Mountain Hawks up by two.
The Blue Hens pulled their starter at the conclusion of the second inning and did so again after the third, sending out Alex Tawa to the mound for the fourth inning. After walking the first two batters, Delaware made another switch just in time for Riley Davis to come to the plate. He reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second base on a throwing error, which in turn scored Tyler Young. After walking another batter, Jake Whitlinger singled Davis home, making way for a Perich double to send two more runs across the plate.
Now leading 7-1, Lehigh turned to O'Neill on the mound in the bottom of the fourth. He allowed no runs in the fourth but allowed a solo shot in the fifth that gave the Blue Hens their second run of the afternoon. The Mountain Hawks would add two more runs in the sixth thanks to a bases loaded walk and hit by pitch, setting the score at 9-2 with three innings left to play.
A scoreless seventh left Delaware with only six outs to orchestrate a comeback. They did just that in the eighth, quickly cutting their deficit to four with back-to-back home runs from Josearmando Diaz and Andrew Amato. First-year Andrew Noone responded in the top of the ninth with his first-collegiate homer to extend Lehigh's lead to five.
Perich, who had taken the mound in relief of O'Neill, was replaced by first-year Grady Golier after loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth. The first-year walked his first batter with the bases loaded followed by an Amato double that set the score at 10-8 with only one out on the board. Dunion grounded out into an RBI to set the Blue Hens only one run away from tying the game with two outs. However, Golier forced Bryce Greenly to ground out in the next at bat to earn the save and seal the victory for his team.
Whitlinger finished the day batting 4-5 with two runs scored and an RBI while Hubbard hit an efficient 3-5 from the two spot. Joining them with hits was Perich, who went 2-2 with three RBIs, as well as Young and Noone who each tallied one hit on the day.
"Whit and Perich both had tremendous days," said Leary. "Whit continues to provide a big spark for us."
"Our first-years made big contributions tonight," said Leary. "Hubbard and Noone provided key run production and Golier showed grit getting us the final outs."
The Mountain Hawks will return south for a three-game series with Queens University of Charlotte this upcoming weekend. A doubleheader will be played on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. followed by another noon start time for game three on Sunday.
Like Lehigh Baseball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: O'Neill, Shane (1-0)
L: NATE ROLKA (0-1)
S: Golier, Grady (1)
Batting:
2B: Whitlinger, Jake 1 ; Hubbard, Braydon 1 ; Perich, Rafe 1 ; Young, Tyler 1
HR: Perich, Rafe 1 ; Noone, Andrew 1
RBI: Whitlinger, Jake 1 ; Perich, Rafe 3 ; Young, Tyler 2 ; Crawford, Trystan 1 ; Davis, Riley 1 ; Noone, Andrew 1
SH: Hubbard, Braydon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whitlinger, Jake 2 ; Hubbard, Braydon 2 ; Perich, Rafe 2 ; Young, Tyler 1 ; Davis, Riley 1 ; Noone, Andrew 2
SB: Young, Tyler 2
CS: Whitlinger, Jake 1
HBP: Butler, Justin 1 ; Crawford, Trystan 1
Batting:
2B: AIDAN KANE 1 ; ANDREW AMATO 1
HR: AIDAN KANE 1 ; JOSEARMANDO DIAZ 1 ; ANDREW AMATO 1
RBI: AIDAN KANE 1 ; JOSEARMANDO DIAZ 3 ; ANDREW AMATO 3 ; JAKE DUNION 1
Base Running:
RUNS: JOEY LOYND 1 ; AARON GRAEBER 1 ; AIDAN KANE 3 ; JOSEARMANDO DIAZ 2 ; ANDREW AMATO 1 ; JAKE DUNION 1
HBP: AIDEN STEWART 1 ; JOEY LOYND 2
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
4
RBI
1
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
3b/p
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
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