Long ball leads LHU Baseball to road split at Shepherd

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V. – The Lock Haven baseball team (11-32, 8-22 PSAC East) earned a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division split on the road at Shepherd University (19-25, 12-18 PSAC East) on Thursday afternoon (May 2). The Bald Eagles won the opener, 8-6 (eight innings), before falling 16-1 in the nightcap.

The Bald Eagles have now won four of their last six games after opening the series with Shepherd 1-1. Lock Haven welcomes Shepherd to Watkins field tomorrow afternoon (Friday, May 3) on Senior Day.

Lock Haven’s offense was powered by the long ball on the day as Francisco Taveras (Muhlenberg, Pa./Muhlenberg) and Jaxson Pupo (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) combined for five home runs over the two games, including two each in the game-one victory.

The home runs were the first of the season for Taveras, while Pupo improves his team-leading total to six.

Game 1 Recap: Lock Haven 8, Shepherd 6 (8 Innings)

Lock Haven rallied for four runs over the final two innings to steal game one, 8-6, over the Rams.

Francisco Taveras (Muhlenberg, Pa./Muhlenberg) was the hero, as he blasted his second home run of the game in the top of the eighth to lead the Bald Eagles to victory.

Taveras, who also led off the game with a home run, finished with three RBIs. Pupo went a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored to start off his monster afternoon. Dante Bruno (Telford, Pa/Souderton Area) also drove in a run.

Lock Haven opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the first, but the Rams erupted for four runs in the bottom half to take the lead.

Lock Haven tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the third and both pitching staffs settled in from there.

It wasn’t until the top of the seventh, when Lock Haven pushed through for a pair of runs, but the Rams struck for the equalizing runs in the bottom half to send the game into extras, setting up the heroics by Taveras.

On the mound, Garrett Starr (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) earned the no-decision, as he tossed five-complete innings and allowed just two runs, while striking out six. Tyler Bauder (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) earned his first save on the season after throwing a scoreless eighth inning.

Game 2 Recap: Shepherd 16, Lock Haven 1

Shepherd’s offense proved to be too much in the nightcap, as they ran away with game two, 16-1.

Pupo drove in Lock Haven’s lone run with his second home run of the day.

John Lucas Sanchez (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) was the Bald Eagles most effective reliever as he tossed one scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

Up Next for Lock Haven:

The Bald Eagles conclude the 2024 season on Friday (May 3) by hosting Shepherd at Watkins field for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Senior Day.