LHU Baseball opens weekend with sweep of Salem

SALEM, W.Va. – The Lock Haven baseball team opened a four-game weekend series at Salem University with a doubleheader sweep today (Saturday, March 8). The Bald Eagles won game one 3-2 (9 inn.), and The Haven completed the sweep with a 3-2 victory in game two.

With the two wins today, Lock Haven improved to 10-3 on the season.

Off to one of the best starts in recent memory, the Bald Eagles found themselves ranked 10th in this week’s National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II Atlantic Region rankings.

Game 1 Recap: Lock Haven 3 – Salem 2 (9 innings)

Lock Haven won today’s opener 3-2 in extra innings (9 inn.) of the scheduled seven-inning game.

Bryce Vincent’s sacrifice fly to left that scored Connor Griffin in the top of the ninth proved to be the difference.

Morgan Billotte hit a two-run home run in the fourth, while both Ethan Nagy and Griffin finished with two-hit games – as timely hitting was key once again for Lock Haven.

The Bald Eagles also benefitted greatly from standout pitching. Starter Matt Lingenfelter impressed and threw six strong innings. He struck out 10 while allowing seven hits, two runs and one walk in the no-decision. Will Stambaugh was credited with the win after striking out a pair in two innings of one-hit action, and Jace Szaflarski shut the door in the ninth behind two strikeouts on the way to the save.

Game 2 Recap: Lock Haven 3 – Salem 2

Lock Haven completed the Saturday sweep with a 3-2 game-two win.

Pitcher Garrett Starr moved to 4-0 with another strong outing. He struck out five and walked only one, while allowing just six hits in six innings – on the way to the win.

Billotte homered again, which was one of his two hits.

Zachary McEllroy and Stephen McMillan both drove in runs to power the bats.

Up Next:

Lock Haven and Salem will close their four-game non-conference series tomorrow (Sunday, March 9). Game one Sunday is set for a noon start.