Lehigh battles for 9-8 extra-inning win over Rider

Tuesday, April 12

3:30 p.m.

Lehigh University

13-21

Rider

10-20

Rider University

Lehigh

Lehigh battles for 9-8 extra-inning win over Rider

4/12/2016 8:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh baseball senior Mike Garzillo hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to knot the score at 8-8 before delivering the walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the tenth inning to lead Lehigh to a 9-8 win over Rider Tuesday afternoon at Legacy Park. The Mountain Hawk bats pounded out 17 hits, while six players recorded multi-hit games. Lehigh improves to 13-21 overall while Rider falls to 10-20.

"There's no one else you'd want up down one in the bottom of the ninth and Mike has come through on those occasions time and time again," said head coach Sean Leary. "We got two out hits today and that was the most important thing that we have been struggling to do lately. To see us come through at the end helps take off a little pressure heading into the weekend."

Freshman Chris Butera picked up his first collegiate win on the mound and also put together a strong showing at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Garzillo finished the game 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore Ryan Bonshak also had a 3-for-5 showing at the dish with three runs scored. Seven Lehigh pitchers saw action in the win, all of whom were underclassmen. Five pitchers combined to limit Rider to just one run through the final four innings. Butera earned the victory after firing a hitless top of the tenth.

"These younger guys play hard every day at practice and deserved an opportunity," said Leary. "Bonshak, Malloy, Butera and Schumacher all came up with big hits for us today and everyone was really happy to see that. They lifted us and gave us the opportunity to win late."

Following a scoreless first inning, the Broncs got on the board first thanks to an unearned run in the top of the second inning. Lehigh bounced back in the bottom of the frame as freshman Ryan Malloy and Bonshak roped back-to-back one-out singles before freshman Thomas Schumacher sent an RBI single to left to tie the game at 1-1. Butera then followed with an RBI groundout before junior Jacen Nalesnik knocked a one-run single to left to put the Mountain Hawks ahead 3-1 through two innings.

The Broncs were able to tie the game in the top of the third thanks to a two-run home run from Tyler Kaiser that put the score at 3-3. Following a scoreless fourth inning, Rider took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth thanks to a leadoff double that was followed by a single and Lehigh error. Freshman Ryan DeWalt then took the mound in relief of rookie starter Cole McManimon to record three quick outs and keep the Broncs' lead at one.

The Mountain Hawks answered right away with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Butera led off the frame with an infield single before moving to second on a Nalesnik sacrifice bunt. Rider intentionally walked Garzillo a batter later before junior Patrick Donnelly knocked an infield single to load the bases. Junior David Young drew an RBI base on balls and Malloy then followed with a two-run single to right to put Lehigh ahead 6-4 through five frames.

The Broncs reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth as three two-out runs were scored thanks to an RBI walk and two-run single to put Rider ahead 7-6. Freshman Mike Gibbons took the mound with one out in the top of the seventh and found himself in a bases-loaded situation, but struck out two Broncs to end the inning before hurling a scoreless eighth to keep the Rider lead at one.

Bonshak led off the bottom of the eighth with a triple to center field and a batter later Butera fell behind 0-2 but battled to knock a base hit to right to score Bonshak and tie the game at 7-7. Rider's James Locklear opened the top of the ninth with a base hit to center before a Lehigh fielding error put him on second. Following a flyout, Riley Mihalik sent an RBI base hit through the right side to put the Broncs ahead 8-7.

Garzillo then took the second pitch of the bottom of the ninth and sent it over the left center fence to tie the game at 8-8 before Rider closer Paul Sparano got the next three outs to send the game to extra innings. Butera took the bump in the top of the tenth and sat the Broncs down in order. Bonshak then opened the bottom of the tenth with a leadoff single before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Mackey Price. Nalesnik and Bleming then followed with two-out walks before Garzillo smacked a walkoff single to left field to secure the 9-8, 10-inning win for the Mountain Hawks.

Lehigh returns to Patriot League play this weekend when the Mountain Hawks head to preseason favorite Navy for a rematch of last year's Patriot League Championship series. Doubleheaders are set for both Saturday and Sunday.

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