Lehigh University
12-6-1
University of Pennsylvania
8-9
Lehigh Edged 12-11 By Penn In Midweek Thriller
3/20/2024 7:12:00 PM | Baseball
"Our offense really had a very strong day," said head coach Sean Leary. "I really like how we competed. It was also great to see us drive some balls today."
Starting the game for Lehigh (12-6-1) was sophomore Ryan Mullock, who threw 2.0 innings against Penn (8-9). Four other Mountain Hawk arms threw in the game, but the loss was taken by first-year Liam O'Hearen, who struck out two batters in his first career appearance. Penn's closer John Cerwinski earned the win in 1.2 innings of action.
Having scored 19 runs in their last outing, the Mountain Hawks looked to continue their excellence around the plate against the Quakers. Lehigh's offense put three runners on base in the top of the first, but were unable to score. After Mullock retired the side 1-2-3, Penn's starter Marty Coyne followed suit in the top of the second. The Quakers popped the lid on the game's scoring shortly after off of a balk and an RBI pop-up.
Down 2-0 entering the third, Andrew Kohl responded in a big way with a three-run homer to put his team ahead. A Nick Spaventa RBI single in the bottom of the frame tied the game at three apiece after the third. The two teams traded runs once again in the fourth courtesy of a Jake Whitlinger RBI double and an Asa Wilson single.
Knotted 4-4, the Quakers broke the tie in the fifth on a Ryan Taylor groundout that scored Wyatt Henseler. After an Owen Walewander double plated Trystan Crawford to once again tie the game in the sixth, Just Butler's Patriot League-leading ninth home run of the season scored two runs to give Lehigh a 7-5 lead in the seventh inning.
Unfortunately for the Mountain Hawks, the Quakers orchestrated a massive five-run bottom of the seventh to take a 10-7 lead. Down to their final six outs, Lehigh needed some more magic, and they found it off the bat of Walewander, who connected on a three-run shot to tie the game in the eighth inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Penn's Davis Baker became the hero, hitting a solo home run to once again give his team the lead. Spaventa then hit an RBI single to give the Quakers an extra insurance run. Although Braydon Hubbard scored on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth, the Mountain Hawks ultimately fell by one in an offensive showcase in Philadelphia.
All nine batters in Lehigh's starting lineup recorded hits, including two-hit days from Rafe Perich, Butler and Walewander.
The Mountain Hawks will begin Patriot League play against rival Lafayette on Friday, March 22 for a doubleheader. The first game of the series will begin at 12 p.m. in Easton.
"I think the last few games should put us in a positive mindset heading into the start of Patriot League play," said Leary.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cerwinski, John (1-1)
L: O'Hearen, Liam (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Whitlinger, Jake 1 ; Cochran, Ryan 1 ; Walewander, Owen 1
HR: Butler, Justin 1 ; Kohl, Andrew 1 ; Walewander, Owen 1
RBI: Whitlinger, Jake 1 ; Butler, Justin 2 ; Kohl, Andrew 3 ; Walewander, Owen 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Cochran, Ryan 1 ; Perich, Rafe 1 ; Butler, Justin 2 ; Kohl, Andrew 2 ; Patrizi, Dom 2 ; Crawford, Trystan 2 ; Walewander, Owen 1
SB: Perich, Rafe 1
HBP: Crawford, Trystan 1
Batting:
2B: Chavez, Connor 1 ; Baker, Davis 1 ; Henseler, Wyatt 1 ; Pokrovsky, Jarrett 3 ; Ozmer, Carson 1 ; Collins, Gavin 1
3B: Taylor, Ryan 1
HR: Baker, Davis 1
RBI: Baker, Davis 1 ; Spaventa, Nick 2 ; Taylor, Ryan 1 ; Pokrovsky, Jarrett 2 ; Ozmer, Carson 1 ; Collins, Gavin 2 ; Wilson, Asa 1
SF: Collins, Gavin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chavez, Connor 1 ; Baker, Davis 2 ; Henseler, Wyatt 2 ; Spaventa, Nick 1 ; Taylor, Ryan 2 ; Pokrovsky, Jarrett 2 ; Ozmer, Carson 1 ; Collins, Gavin 1
SB: Collins, Gavin 1
