Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Lehigh defeated Saint Peter's 11-5 in non-conference baseball action on Tuesday.
Chris Hugg (Ironia, N.J./Randolph) paced the Peacocks (2-19-1) with a two-run triple while Zach Rawson (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI and Jon Kristoffersen (Jefferson, N.J./Jefferson Township) posted two hits and a run scored in the loss.
Mike Garzillo powered the Mountain Hawks (9-18) with two hits, three RBIs and a run scored. Jacen Nalesnik added three hits, two RBIs and a run scored while David Young registered two RBIs in the winning effort.
Lehigh scored nine-straight runs after Saint Peter's took a lead to earn the win in the first meeting between the two teams since 1997.
Vinny Maietta (Franklin Square, N.J./St. Mary) and Rawson reached on consecutive singles with one out in the second and both scored on errors to give the Peacocks a 2-0 lead in the second.
The Mountain Hawks answered with four runs in the third to take the lead for good. Garzillo tied the game on a two-run single through the right side before he scored on an error and Young added an RBI on an error to give Lehigh a 4-2 lead.
Garzillo walked with the bases loaded in the fourth to increase the Mountain Hawks advantage to 5-1.
Lehigh added its second four-run inning of the day in the seventh to increase it margin to 9-2. Anthony Rinaldi hit a sacrifice fly to start the rally before Young scored on an error and Nalesnik plated two runs on a single back through the box for the seven-run lead.
Saint Peter's scored three times in the eighth to trim the margin to 9-5. Kristoffersen and Rob Moore (Ridge, N.Y./Longwood) opened the stanza with back-to-back singles and came around to score on Hugg's triple to left center. Rawson brought home Hugg on a perfectly placed bunt to the third base side.
John Elson added a bases loaded walk and Young was hit by the pitch in the ninth to set the final score of 11-5.
Mark Washington pitched well for Lehigh, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts in 7+ innings. Washington left the game with two runners on in the eighth before Hugg smacked his triple.
Tom Puza (Point Pleasant, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) took the loss for the Peacocks.
The two teams will head down Route 78 to complete the home-and-home series in Bethlehem on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
