LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Behind a sensational effort on the mound in game one from ace
Jacob Belinda (Port Matilda, Pa./Tyrone), the Lock Haven University baseball team (11-3, 1-1 PSAC East) opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action with a split vs. Mansfield University (9-10, 1-1 PSAC East).
Belinda's masterful game-one performance led Lock Haven to a 7-1 win and the Bald Eagles did all they could in the second game – plating two runs in a seventh-inning rally – but Mansfield took game two in the end, 3-2.
In game one, Belinda's dominance on the mound paved the way for the Bald Eagles, who also got the offense going at just the right time.
Belinda, Lock Haven's ace, struck out seven and scattered four hits on the way to his fourth win of the season in a complete-game effort (4-0).
The Haven offense got going in the fifth with a pair of runs and LHU tacked on five more in the sixth.
Hunter Szaflarski (Greencastle, Pa./Hagerstown Community College) was 2 for 3 with two RBIs,
Cayden Stover (Beech Creek, Pa./Chesapeake College) was 2 for 4 and
Nick Stotler (Pittsburgh/Coker College) finished 2 for 4 with a run scored.
In game two, LHU rallied in the bottom of the seventh and scored both its runs. Szaflarski and Stover both drove in runs, but the rally came up short as Mansfield held on for the win.
Pitcher
Mike Anthony (Audubon, Pa./North Hampton Community College) was a tough-luck loser in game two after he struck out eight.
Last season, the Bald Eagles closed their season in thrilling fashion vs. Mansfield, going 3-0-1 against the Mounties in the final series of the season. LHU swept MU on the very final day of the 2016 season thanks to a pair of extra-inning walk-off wins.
LHU and Mansfield are scheduled to play two more and cap the four-game series on Saturday (March 25) at Mansfield (1/3 p.m.).
*Please note: With the forecast calling for inclement weather starting tomorrow (Friday) through the weekend, a decision will be made on Saturday's games at Mansfield early Friday morning.
