April 18, 2018 Box Score
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In a low scoring affair on Wednesday afternoon, walks proved to be the difference as the Mountain Hawks earned a 5-2 victory over the Maroon and White in Patriot League action.
The loss drops the Leopards to 13-25 overall with a 2-12 mark in the Patriot League. Lehigh improves to 4-10 in league play with a 14-21 record on the year. Brian Lannino (1-4) took the loss on the mound for Lafayette while Peter Woltersdorf (4-0) earned the win for the Mountain Hawks.
The game was neck and neck for the majority of the afternoon, but the difference came at the plate. The Leopards outhit Lehigh 11 to seven, but the Mountain Hawks were able to draw 11 walks as they manufactured five runs.
The Maroon and White had a chance in the top of third as Jake Sniegocki got the inning started off with a bang, barely missing a homer with a double off of the left field wall. The Leopards couldn't move him over from there and Lehigh struck in the bottom of the frame with their first hit and first runs. A single gave the Mountain Hawks their first run of the contest before a sacrifice fly put the Leopards down 2-0.
Lafayette got on the board in the fourth inning as Luke Robinson and Richard Villa combined for a run. Robinson laced his fourth double of the year into left center before moving to third on a wild pitch. Villa took it from there, roping a single into center field to get the Leopards on the board.
Lehigh loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, forcing a pitching change from the Leopards. A walk gifted the Mountain Hawks a run to make it a 3-1 game. Lafayette answered in the sixth inning as Robinson came through once again for the Leopards. After John Marti legged out an infield single to start the frame, Robinson sent the ball into centerfield, allowing Marti to score put the Leopards down one at 3-2.
That was all from the Maroon and White's bats, as Lehigh stifled the lineup while adding runs in the bottom of the sixth and eighth to seal the game.
Robinson (2-for-4) and Marti (2-for-4) combined for four of Lafayette's seven hits while scoring one run a piece. JP Woodward struck out four batters for the second straight contest for the Leopards.
Lafayette return home this weekend with a three-game set against Holy Cross. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start. The annual Hilton Rahn '51 tailgate will be held during Saturday's contests. More information can be found here.
