BETHLEHEM, PA—Lehigh swept visiting NJIT, 2-1, in seven-innings to open the four-game series and the Mountain Hawks scored 10 runs through the final six innings in the nine-inning game, recording an 11-6 victory in the nightcap Saturday at J. David Walker Field.
The two teams will back in action on Sunday for another doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at J. David Walker Field.
Lehigh (5-12 overall) got two strong performances out of its starting pitchers as the duo combined to surrender just three runs in a combined total of 11 innings of work.
NJIT (3-16 overall) also had solid starting pitching in game one, but the Mountain Hawk bats came alive in game two, scoring 10 runs over the final six innings.
Game One
Mountain Hawks starting pitcher Connor Donovan 5.1 innings, surrendering five hits, but only allowed one run as he struck out two Highlanders in game one. Ethan Froham notched his second save of the season, pitching the final 1.2 innings, letting up one hit and no runs.
Highlander
Andres Fernandez (0-1) was credited with the loss, pitching 5.0 innings, giving up four hits, two runs (earned) while striking out five Mountain Hawks. Relief pitcher
John Saviano pitched a scoreless sixth inning for the Highlanders.
Lehigh's 3B Patrick Donnelly drove in the Mountain Hawks pair of runs in the first inning on a double down the right field line, scoring two, in the first inning. Donnelly finished 2-for-3 with two RBI.
NJIT's 2B
Tom Brady finished the game going 2-for-3 while senior 3B
Bryan Haberstroh posted the Highlanders only run of the game, a solo shot in the sixth inning, his second of the season.
Game Two
Lehigh freshman Jason Reynolds made his first collegiate start, allowing just two runs in 5.2 innings of work. Reynolds finished with 11 strikeouts, which ties Lehigh's single-season mark for the most strikeouts in a game.
Relief pitcher Matt Hand completed the final 3.1 innings, letting up six hits, four runs (all earned) while striking out two Highlander batters, picking up his first save of the season.
The Highlanders used four pitchers as
Brian Sondergard (0-2) took the loss, pitching 3.1 innings, followed by
Rex MacMillan (2.2 innings),
James Sofield (seventh inning) and
Jared Kacso (eighth inning).
Five different Mountain Hawks recorded multi-hit performances, including RF Jacen Nalesnik and LF Anthony Rinaldi, who each finished with three hits. SS James Bleming went 2-for-4 with three RBI and 1B Connor Donovan and 2B David Young, both going 2-for-5.
NJIT's RF
Michael Anastasia completed the game 3-for-5, including RBI and one run while
Tom Brady went 3-for-5. CF
Jesse Uttendorfer and 1B
Johnny Malatesta went 2-for-4 for the Highlanders.
The Highlanders struck first in the top of the third on a two-out double to right center by Anastasia, scoring
Evan Pietronico and
Justin Etts, who both reached base with a single.
NJIT did not score until the final two innings, with an RBI single up the middle by Uttenforder and three runs in the ninth, on a single by Anastasia, scoring two Highlanders and an RBI double to center field by DH Matt Cocciadiferro.
