Offense explodes for 30 runs, LHU Baseball takes 2 of 3 in weekend trip to North Carolina

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: February 21, 2022

Courtesy of Lock Haven University

The LHU baseball team split a doubleheader with IUP on Saturday, before notching an impressive 11-0 win over Nyack on Sunday to cap a 2-1 weekend.

KINSTON, N.C. – The Lock Haven University baseball team (4-4) racked up 30 runs on 33 hits and compiled a 2-1 record over the weekend in Kinston, North Carolina.

On Saturday, the Bald Eagles came out on fire and took game one from Indiana (Pa.) by a 19-3 score. LHU ran up 20 total hits and Justin Lichtenwalner’s (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) grand slam in the sixth inning pushed the sophomore to a six-RBI day.

LHU dropped game two against IUP 9-0 on Saturday, but rebounded in style on Sunday with an 11-0 win over Nyack. Kevin Worek’s (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Abington) 13 strikeouts in just five innings of work are the most for the Bald Eagles in a single game since 2017. Four different Bald Eagles notched two RBIs in the game, as the Bald Eagles pulled away in the sixth inning to force the 10-run rule in the seventh inning of an originally scheduled nine-inning game.

Game 1 vs. IUP: W, 19-3

Lichtenwalner and Joe Shannon (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent (Mercer CC)) combined for 10 RBIs between the two of them as The Haven offense exploded for 19 runs, 20 hits and drew eight walks.

David Keller (Oreland, Pa/Christopher Dock Mennonite) got the start on the mound and went six strong innings with just two earned runs. Keller fanned seven batters and scattered six hits before Rylan Bailey (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) closed the game out in the seventh inning.

Game 2 vs. IUP: L, 9-0

The Crimson Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning and never looked back behind a strong effort on the mound from Jimmy Tooley, who went five innings and allowed just one run. RJ Kruse (Milford, Pa./ Delaware Valley (Lackawanna)) started for LHU and allowed three runs in four innings of work. Shannon, Blaise Zeiders (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) and Zach Kaatz (Stafford, Va./Mountain View) each notched one of three Bald Eagle hits in the game.

Game 3 vs. Nyack: W, 11-0

The offense erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning, but the Bald Eagles got a dominant day on the mound from Worek who went five innings and struck out 13 of his 17 batters faced. Worek allowed just one hit and walked one. Shannon continued his superb weekend as Shannon, Jake Mastillo (Roaring Brook Twp, Pa./North Pocono), Andrew Ramirez (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) and Gabe Stirr (Canadensis, Pa./Pocono Mtn. East) all notched two RBIs on the day.

Lingenfelter’s seven RBIs paced the Bald Eagles for the weekend, but just behind him was Shannon with six. Shannon’s eight hits were a team-high and the junior batted a red-hot .667 over the three-game span.

Next Up:

The Bald Eagles head to Glenville State for a four-game weekend series on Saturday (Mar. 5)and Sunday (Mar. 6). Each day’s doubleheader is slated to begin at 12 p.m.