Sunday, May 15
Worcester, Mass.
1 p.m.
Lehigh University
25-29
8
at
12
No. 2 Holy Cross
29-25
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8
9
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H
E
Lehigh
0
0
1
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8
16
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Holy Cross
8
3
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12
12
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Lehigh rally falls short in game three semifinal loss at Holy Cross
5/15/2016 5:12:00 PM | Baseball
WORCESTER, Mass. – The Lehigh baseball team outscored Holy Cross 8-1 in the final seven innings of game three of the Patriot League Semifinals, but it wasn't enough to overcome an early 11-0 deficit as the Crusaders were able to hold on for a 12-8 victory. Lehigh's season comes to a close at 25-29 overall, while the Crusaders advance to next weekend's Patriot League Championship series.
Lehigh's six-member Class of 2016 saw its accomplished career come to an end with the semifinal loss. The six seniors led Lehigh to three-straight postseason appearances, three-consecutive 25-win seasons and a 2015 Patriot League Championship.
"This senior class has had a tremendous career and I'm so grateful for the time they've spent with our program," said head coach Sean Leary. "This has been as significant as any senior class we've ever had and their legacy is something that will stay with this program for years to come. The underclassmen and coaches are incredibly thankful for what this class has meant to the team."
Seniors Mackey Price and Mike Garzillo recorded two RBI apiece, Garzillo's by way of the long ball, to help Lehigh put together a four-run fifth inning. Freshman Jeff Shanfeldt added a two-run hit in the top of the ninth inning as Lehigh put together another rally. Junior Jacen Nalesnik went 3-for-6 and wrapped up the series with an outstanding 9-for-15 clip at the plate. Price, Shanfeldt, junior Patrick Donnelly and sophomore James Bleming all recorded two hits apiece as Lehigh out-hit the Crusaders 16-12.
Garzillo, the 2016 Patriot League Player of the Year, graduates with Lehigh career records in hits (236), doubles (60), games played (205) and at bats (746), in addition to ranking second in career home runs (22), RBI (140) and runs scored (145).
The Mountain Hawks had an opportunity to strike first in the top of the first inning as a Nalesnik leadoff double was followed by a hit by pitch and walk to load the bases with one out, but Holy Cross starting pitcher Justin Finan got Lehigh to ground into a double play to end the threat and keep the Mountain Hawks off the board. The Crusaders then put up eight runs in the bottom of the first thanks to three hits, seven walks and Lehigh error. Holy Cross added three more in the following frame to stretch its lead to 11-0 through two innings.
Lehigh was able to get on the board in the top of the third as Nalesnik sent a one-out single through the left side before Bleming drew a walk. Donnelly followed with an RBI single through the left side to plate Nalesnik. After another Holy Cross run in the bottom of the third and a scoreless fourth inning, the Mountain Hawks put up a four spot in the top of the fifth. Bleming came up with a one-out single before Garzillo drilled a line drive home run over the left field fence. Junior David Young followed with a base hit to right before Shanfeldt poked a ball into center and classmate Thomas Schumacher drew a walk to load the bases. Price then smacked a two-run single through the left side to pull Lehigh within 12-5 through four and a half innings.
After the third inning, freshmen relievers Cole McManimon and Anthony Morrone kept the Crusaders scoreless for the final five frames, but Lehigh wasn't able to get much off Holy Cross reliever Joe Cravero until the top of the ninth inning when pinch hitter Chris Butera sent a leadoff single up the middle and Young followed with a double to right. Shanfeldt then knocked the two runners in with a single through the left side to pull Lehigh within 12-7 before Holy Cross brought in Danny Barlok out of the bullpen. A two-out double from freshman Ryan Malloy scored Shanfeldt, but a groundout ended the game as the Crusaders walked away with the 12-8 victory.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Joe Cravero (6-2)
L: Frohman, Ethan (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Nalesnik, Jacen 1 ; Young, David 1 ; Malloy, Ryan 1
HR: Garzillo, Mike 1
RBI: Garzillo, Mike 2 ; Donnelly, Patrick 1 ; Shanfeldt, Jeff 2 ; Price, Mackey 2 ; Malloy, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nalesnik, Jacen 1 ; Bleming, James 1 ; Garzillo, Mike 1 ; Butera, Chris 1 ; Young, David 2 ; Shanfeldt, Jeff 2
HBP: Bleming, James 1
Batting:
2B: Anthony Critelli 1 ; Bill Schlich 1 ; Bobby Indeglia 1
RBI: Cam O'Neill 3 ; Anthony Critelli 4 ; Bobby Indeglia 1
SF: Bobby Indeglia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nick Lovullo 3 ; Cam O'Neill 1 ; Anthony Critelli 1 ; Bill Schlich 1 ; Josh Hassell 3 ; Thomas Russo 2 ; Bobby Indeglia 1
SB: Josh Hassell 1
CS: Bill Schlich 1
HBP: Nick Lovullo 1 ; Cam O'Neill 1
Game Leaders
AB
6
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
cf/ss
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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1B/3B
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