SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. – Lock Haven University (9-22, 2-13 PSACE) pounded out 15 hits and used an effective pitching tandem as the Bald Eagles cruised past Shepherd University (13-18-1, 7-11-1 PSACE) on Friday afternoon in a nine-inning, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division road matchup with the Rams.
Following a scoreless opening frame, the Bald Eagles got on the board in a big way in the second. Garrett Nepert (Preston, Md./Colonel Richardson (Chesapeake County CC)) drew a two-out walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch to put a Bald Eagle in scoring position. Cameron Kutchey (Smithsburg, Md./Smithsburg) followed up in the ensuing at-bat by drilling a 1-1 pitch over the fence in left field to put the Bald Eagles up by a 2-0 tally.
Shepherd cut its gap in half with a run in the home half of the inning, but the Bald Eagles added runs in the third inning to open the game up. Justin Lichtenwalner (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) took advantage of a Shepherd miscue in the field and moved to third on a Jake Mastillo (Roaring Brook Twp, Pa./North Pocono) single through the left side. Joe Shannon (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent (Mercer CC)) gave LHU an insurance run when he roped a single through the left side, scoring Mastillo to build a 3-1 Lock Haven lead.
Lock Haven wasn't done yet. Blaise Zeiders (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) belted an infield single to load the bases and Zach Kaatz (Stafford, Va./Mountain View) pushed two runners across with a double down the line in left field as the Bald Eagles owned a 5-1 lead after two-and-a-half innings of action.
With a four-run lead, David Keller (Oreland, Pa/Christopher Dock Mennonite) was electric on the hill in the middle innings. Keller retired Shepherd's side in order in the third and fourth as the Bald Eagles maintained a 5-1 lead after four complete.
The Bald Eagles added three more runs in the fifth and a single run in the sixth to blow the game wide open at a 9-1 tally after six innings of play.
After a scoreless seventh inning from both teams, the Bald Eagles added an additional insurance run in the eighth. Nepert lifted a pitch to right field for the second out of the inning, but Shannon tagged up from third base and was sent home to extend the LHU lead to 10-1.
Shepherd notched a run in the eighth inning to finalize the scoring as the Bald Eagles rolled to a 10-2 road win.
The middle of the Lock Haven lineup accounted for nine of The Haven's 15 hits and seven runs to lead the way. Shannon led LHU's bats with a 4-for-5 effort with three runs and a run batted in. Mastillo chipped in a trio of hits while Gavin Troutman (Boyertown, Pa./Oley Valley) also tallied three hits from his leadoff post.
Keller was electric on the hill, keeping the Rams bats guessing all game en route to his fourth win of the season. The Oreland, Pa. native fanned a career high 11 batters, including six straight outs via strikeout in the fourth and fifth innings.
Next Up:
The Bald Eagles return to Watkins Field tomorrow, Saturday, April 23 for an afternoon twin bill with Shepherd. First pitch against the Rams is set for noon in game one. The contest also marks the Vs. Cancer game as the Bald Eagles raise funds to aid in the fight against pediatric brain cancer in coordination with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
