George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Lehigh
Baseball Bounces Back To Split Doubleheader With Lehigh
3/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 1, 2009
ARLINGTON, VA - The George Washington Baseball team fought tough weather conditions on Sunday afternoon at Barcroft Park to split a pair of games against Lehigh. The first game was a back and forth affair in which the Colonials lost 10-9, but bounced back to beat the Mountain Hawks 12-4 in five innings. Even with the game only lasting five innings, it still counts as an official game in the standings.
The first game saw the Colonials jump out to a 4-0 lead after three innings, but Lehigh trimmed the deficit to 5-3 after six innings and made the game close. After Lehigh took the lead in the seventh by scoring four runs, the Colonials came up in the bottom of the inning facing their first deficit of the afternoon.
George Washington loaded the bases for pinch hitter Chris Marsicano, who popped up a ball foul that Lehigh third baseman Kevin Mihalik dropped and gave Marsicano second life at the plate. The senior took advantage and launched a grand slam over the right field wall to give the Colonials the lead back at 9-7.
The Colonials gave up three runs in the eighth, which was their final undoing though in the 10-9 loss. Leadoff man Tom Zebroski had three hits designated hitter Curtis Eward hit a home run and reached base three times. Starter Eric Cantrell went 5.2 innings and allowed just three hits and three earned runs.
In the second contest, snow began to fall heavily, but the Colonials bats were still hot as they pounded out 12 runs and 12 hits in less than five innings of play. With snow falling and visibility becoming an issue, the game was called but still was an official game as it was in the home half of the fifth inning. Brendon Kelliher hit a towering grand slam to center field and Sean Rockey had three hits in the third spot in the order.
The Colonials first three hitters reached base nine times in the short game and were constantly forcing the Lehigh pitchers to throw high stress innings in the stretch. The Colonials scored runs in four of the five frames and never looked back in the decisive victory.
Chris Neary pitched all five innings for the Colonials and allowed three earned runs on four hits and struck out seven.
George Washington will now travel to Virginia, where they face the Cavaliers in a Tuesday game. First pitch for the March 4th matchup is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
