LHU baseball starts Friday
LOCK HAVEN, PA. – The Lock Haven University baseball team is set to open its season at home on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13 with a home-and-home series with Kutztown University.
The Bald Eagles will take on perennial PSAC-power Millersville the following Friday and Saturday in a home-and-home series.
In order to reduce travel and maximize the opportunity to play, Lock Haven will play an all PSAC Eastern Division schedule against the conference’s Eastern Division member institutions. The schedule consists of Friday-Saturday home-and-home doubleheaders. The season will conclude with the PSAC tournament, set to begin on May 12, with the winner advancing to the NCAA tournament.
Prior to last season’s shutdown, Lock Haven went 5-7 through 12 games which were highlighted by a pair of extra inning walk-off wins over Concord and California (Pa.)
A season ago, nine total players recorded at least 10 starts for LHU and of those nine student-athletes, eight will return to the field this spring.
Leading the Bald Eagle charge will be Scott Leitholf (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) who will once again be at the top of the pitching rotation. The former PSAC East Freshman of the Year (2018) features an array of pitches to keep the opposition off balance. Before last season’s shutdown, Leitholf recorded a 1.59 ERA, 16 strikeouts and a perfect 2-0 record.
At the plate, Justin Lichtenwalner (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield), Isaac Porter (Beach Creek, Pa./Central Mountain (St. Bonaventure)) and Jake Mastillo (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) will look to cement their names atop the Bald Eagle batting order.
Lichtenwalner, Porter and Mastillo combined for 31 hits, 11 runs scored, 14 RBIs and 44 total bases a season ago. Lichtenwaler can also get it done on the mound as well. He appeared in three games for the Bald Eagles last season earning two saves and a win.
Santino Nave (Roman Catholic/Philadelphia), Blaise Zeiders (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove), Cameron Kutchey (Smithsburg, Pa./Smithsburg) and Reagan Lawlor (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) are all returning and bring plenty of experience with them. The quartet has started over 100 games combined for the Bald Eagles and will be leaned on in this unprecedented season.
SEASON NOTES:
• Lock Haven will play an all PSAC Eastern Division schedule against the conference’s Eastern Division member institutions only. The schedule consists of Friday-Saturday home-and-home doubleheaders.
• Lock Haven will play eight home-and-home series in total. The season will culminate at the annual PSAC Championships starting in May.
• Lock Haven was tabbed as fifth in the PSAC Eastern Division Preseason Coaches’ Poll. For the full PSAC release click here.
• Head Coach Heath Stover is entering his fourth season in command of LHU baseball. Stover’s career record at LHU currently sits at 46-51-1.
UP NEXT:
LHU will welcome Millersville to Watkins Field on Friday, March 19 for a doubleheader. On March 20 LHU will head to Millersville to complete their four game series.
