The LHU baseball team dropped its home opener against conference opponent West Chester in a tightly-contested battle that went to thirteen innings.

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: March 16, 2022

Courtesy of Lock Haven Athletics
Baseball drops thirteen-inning battle versus West Chester in home opener

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University baseball team (6-10, 0-3 PSAC East) hosted West Chester University (12-2, 3-0 PSAC East) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action on Wednesday afternoon where the two teams finished their first series of conference play. The Bald Eagles and Golden Rams played for over four hours, with WCU grabbing a 10-4 win.

This game marked LHU’s first extra-inning game since March 27, 2021 against Shippensburg.

The Bald Eagles struck first, and took a 4-0 lead in the second innning. Nick White (Halethorpe, Md./Lansdowne (CCBC Dundalk)) started the scoring off for LHU with a bases loaded single, scoring Blaise Zeiders (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove). Gavin Troutman (Boyertown, Pa./Oley Valley) increased the lead with his 2-RBI double, scoring Garrett Nepert (Preston, Md./Colonel Richardson (Chesapeake County CC)) and Gabe Stirr (Canadensis, Pa./Pocono Mtn. East). Justin Lichtenwalner (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) drove in the last run of the inning to put LHU up 4-0.

In the top of the third, the Golden Rams fired back, knocking in three runs to bring the score back to 4-3.

Kevin Worek (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Abington) started for the Bald Eagles and went five strong innings with just three runs allowed and three hits. Matt Lingenfelter (State College, Pa./State College) and Jared Colledge (Everett, Pa./Everett Area) combined for six innings of scoreless relief and scattered just five hits.

The top of the ninth saw WCU force extra innings with a two-out single to knot the game at 4-4.

The first three extra innings saw strong pitching as only one hit was allowed by either side until the 13^th inning. The top of the 13^th saw WCU claim the lead with a go-ahead double before adding extra insurance runs to take home the victory 10-4.

Next Up:

The Bald Eagles will travel to Kutztown for a three-game series starting on the road, Friday, March 18 with first pitch of a single nine-inning game scheduled for 2:00 p.m.