LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Despite cold and windy temperatures the Bald Eagle bats got red hot and powered their way to 29 runs on 28 hits as the Lock Haven University baseball team (10-3, 2-0 PSAC East) opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division play with a sweep of No. 6 West Chester University (10-5, 0-2 PSAC East). LHU held on for a wild 14-12 win in Game 1 and the Bald Eagles left no doubt in Game 2, earning the sweep with a lopsided 15-1 win.
 
West Chester entered the game as the defending NCAA Division II national champions and the Golden Rams were ranked No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the Atlantic Region.
 
In game one, Lock Haven and the sixth-ranked Golden Rams combined for 26 runs on 32 hits in a slugfest. In Game 2, Lock Haven scored 15 runs on 11 hits and Scott Leitholf (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) threw a two-hit gem.
 
Breton LaRose (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Sacred Heart) highlighted game one as he came into pitch in the seventh inning with two outs and closed the door on the late rally for the Golden Rams. This marked the 13^th save in LaRose's career which broke the Lock Haven career record for saves.
 
GAME 1:
The Bald Eagles jumped out to a big lead and held off West Chester. Liam McArthur (Basking Ridge, N.J./Seton Hall) started the first inning off with a single through the left side, followed by a Cayden Stover (Beech Creek, Pa./Chesapeake C.C.) triple to get the scoring started at Watkins Field.
 
The Haven would then score at least one run in the next four innings including seven in the second inning and four in the third. Eight batters for LHU recorded a hit as Liam McArthur (Basking Ridge, N.J./Seton Hall) led the charge with four hits. Keyshawn D'Orso (Pittsburgh/Mercyhurst Northeast CC) and Stover both chipped in with three while Kolby Dehaas (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Wenatchee Valley C.C.) and Justin Sleigh (Dubois, Pa./Dubois) had a pair of hits each.
 
D'Orso had himself a game as he also accounted for four RBIs which was a game-high. Following his excellent play was DeHaas and Stover who drove in three runs apiece. Brady Chappell (Milton, Pa./Milton) joined the action with a multi RBI play driving in two runs.
 
Jesse Slinger (Pittsburgh/Youngstown State) got the nod as the starting pitcher for LHU as he went 5 2/3 innings, scattering nine hits while fanning seven batters.
 
GAME 2:
Lock Haven carried its momentum from the first game into the early part of game two as the Bald Eagles raced out to an early 5-0 lead after the first inning.
 
Leitholf took the mound as the starting pitcher and threw a complete game two-hit gem. He held a no-hitter going through four innings before allowing a solo home run to Jon Hansen with no outs in the fifth.
 
DeHaas led the way for The Haven offense, going a perfect 4-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. McArthur, Demetrius Haskins (Pittsburgh, Taylor Alderdice) and Chappell all had two RBIs for the Bald Eagles.
 
UP NEXT:
Lock Haven and West Chester will play again tomorrow (Saturday, March 24). The PSAC East doubleheader will be played in Lock Haven, as West Chester's field remains unplayable because of the recent snow storm. Despite playing on their home field tomorrow, the Bald Eagles will be the away team.