LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University baseball team (5-13, 5-13 PSAC East) split Friday's doubleheader against Shepherd University (14-9, 12-9 PSAC East) dropping game one, 4-3, and then rallying for a gutsy, 5-4, win in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East division action at Watkin's Field.
The Bald Eagles went down to the wire in both games receiving strong starting pitching performances from
Scott Leitholf (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) in game one and
Kevin Worek (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./ Abington) in the night cap.
Offensively,
Justin Lichtenwalner (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) and
Joe Shannon (Warminster, Pa./ William Tennent (Mercer CC)) led the Bald Eagles in hits as each one landed a trio of base hits.
Jake Mastillo (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) and
Isaac Porter (Beach Creek, Pa./Central Mountain(St. Bonaventure)) each homered on the day and led The Haven with two and three RBIs, respectively.
Game 1: L, 4-3
Shepherd took an early 1-0 lead in the top half of the inning, but LHU responded shortly thereafter in the second inning after
Shannon's leadoff single.
Garrett Nepert (Preston, Md./ Chesepeake County CC) also singled in the inning and Shannon eventually scored on a bases loaded wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1. The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 until the fifth inning when Shepherd once again edged in front, 2-1.
Mastillo launched his team-high fourth home run to left center in the sixth inning and drove in two runs to push the Bald Eagles to a slender 3-2 lead. The Rams proved too much in the seventh inning notching two runs and strong pitching to save the 4-3 win.
Leitholf took the mound in what turned out to be a pitcher's duel between the two starting pitchers. Leitholf went six strong innings and scattered just three hits while striking out nine Shepherd batters. The senior pitcher allowed three earned runs but was not credited with a decision.
Game 2: W, 5-4
The Rams once again jumped out 1-0 in the top half of the first inning off a solo home run. LHU tied it back up at 1-1 when
Blaise Zeiders (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) doubled to center field and drove in Shannon, who had singled earlier in the inning. The Rams took a 3-1 lead off Jared Carr's second home run of the day and look poised to bring home the win as the score held until the bottom of the sixth inning. Porter stole the show in the sixth blasting a three-run homer off the left field scoreboard to push LHU to a 4-3 advantage. Lock Haven added one more all-important insurance run as Shannon took advantage of a Shepherd error to make it 5-3. Shepherd made a tremendous push in the top of the seventh inning scoring one run and loading the bases, but were held at bay by
Brandon Lingenfelter (State College, Pa./State College) who earned the save for his work staving off the Ram push and striking out two batters which gave Lock Haven the gutsy 5-4 win.
Worek started on the mound for the Bald Eagles and pitched five innings allowing three earned runs. The freshman pitcher fanned eight batters and walked just two. Worek gave up seven hits over a strong outing but
Austin Gilpin (Newfoundland, Pa./ Wallenpaupack) earned the win after he pitched a scoreless inning in the crucial sixth where he struck out one batter and faced only three.
Next Up:
LHU travels to West Virginia tomorrow (April 17) for the return leg of the weekend series for the final two games. First pitch on those games is set for noon and 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Shepherd.
