×

LHU gets spark from offense in DH sweep

LOCK HAVEN — After watching his team post a 10-3 record in several southern trips, first-year LHU baseball coach Heath “Smokey” Stover was hoping that his players would get off to a good start entering conference play.

Friday afternoon, Stover’s team wasted no time assuring the head coach that the fast start was in the making as the Bald Eagles swept a pair of PSAC-East games from the defending NCAA Division-II champion West Chester — currently ranked eighth in the nation — by scores of 14-12 and 15-1 at Watkins Field.

“Our guys were very patient at the plate and when they got ahead in the count they took advantage of it,” said Stover. “In one through nine in our lineup every kid is probably a Division-I type kid who can come up and do damage every time they come to the plate. I think the biggest thing is that they don’t feel pressure compared to a lineup where you have only one or two guys who can hit the long ball. They don’t feel that they have to put the whole game on their shoulders and carry the team. Today you could see that we are capable of scoring a lot of runs in a hurry and we did it with two outs too.”

Situational hitting can help you or the lack of it can hurt you, and right now, the Bald Eagles are reaping the benefits of that luxury.

“We didn’t do it too much early in the year, but right now, when we get runners in scoring position we are driving them in,” said Stover. “Right now our situational hitting is clicking, especially with two outs. We have had times when we got runners on say second and third and didn’t get them in, but fortunately that didn’t happen to us today.”

Stover felt that coming into conference play that type of offense shouldn’t be a problem as the Bald Eagles had numerous multiple-hit games already under their belts.

Friday’s games were no different as they pounded three Golden Ram pitchers for 17 hits in the opener before following that with an 11-hit attack in the second game.

Carrying the big bats in the opener were Liam McArthur with four hits in five trips while scoring three runs, Cayden Stover added three hits in four at-bats, including a double and triple with three RBIs and two runs. Kolby DeHaas had two hits in four attempts for three RBIs and two runs, Justin Sleigh hit two doubles and scored two runs. Keyshawn D’Orso went a perfect 3 for 3 with four RBIs and a run scored.

In the second game, Lock Haven had several more multiple hit performers as McArthur added a pair of singles, DeHaas went 3 for 4 with three hits, including a double while driving in three runs, and D’Orso had two hits and scored three runs.

In the first game, the Bald Eagles soared out to a 12-1 lead after three innings before hanging on for the 14-12 win as the pitching went south for the final three innings.

However, in the second game, pitching was anything but a problem as Stover handed the ball to freshman Scott Leithoff and the lanky righthander responded by tossing a two-hitter in his route-going effort.

“It was great for us to see our freshman Scott Leithoff throw that strong second game,” said Stover. “He came right out, dealing from the first pitch on, and the result was a two-hitter. That is phenomenal from any freshman, especially in this conference. He kept his composure, threw strikes, worked ahead in the count and when you do that, you can throw the pitches you want to throw.”

With the extremely poor weather in the southeast part of the state, instead of Lock Haven making the trip to West Chester for the final two games of the weekend set, the two teams will once again play at Watkins Field this afternoon.

First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m.

LHU 14, West Chester 12

(GAME ONE)

West Chester 001 404 3 — 12 15 1

Lock Haven 174 10x — 14 17 3

Mike Cipolla, Alex Gouveia (3), Keith Flaherty (6) and Corey Webb. Jesse Slinger, Breton LaRose (6) and Brett Morrison (7) and Brady Chappell. W: Slinger (2-1). L: Cipolla (2-1). S: LaRose (3).

Top West Chester hitters: Jared Melone 3-4, 2 runs; Shane Dressler 2-5, 2B; Christian Bateman 2-4, RBI; Nick Ward 2-4, HR, 5 RBIs, 2 runs. Top Lock Haven hitters: Keyshawn D’Orso 3-3, 4 RBIs; Cayden Stover 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Justin Sleigh 2-4, 2B, 2 runs; Kolby Dehaas 2-4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs.

LHU 15, West Chester 1

(GAME TWO)

West Chester 000 010 0 — 1 2 1

Lock Haven 500 082 x — 15 11 0

Zach Rice, Nick Picariello (5) and Bill Ford. Scott Leitholf and Brady Chappell. W: Leitholf (3-0). L: Rice (3-1).

Top West Chester hitters: Jon Hansen, HR. Top Lock Haven hitters: Kolby Dehaas 4-4, 2B, 3 RBIs, run; Liam McArthur 2-4, 2 RBIs, run; John Banes, 2B; Demetrius Haskins, 3B.

Records: Lock Haven (10-3), West Chester (10-5).

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today