March 12, 2002

Philadelphia, PA - Lehigh jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third, but a five run frame in the bottom of the inning and three more runs in the sixth helped push La Salle past Lehigh by a 9-7 score on Tuesday afternoon. The win improves the Explorers' record to 3-9, while the setback drops the Mountain Hawks' mark to 5-6-1 on the season.

Third baseman Jesse Novalis and right fielder Jeremy Mack led Lehigh's offense, as each hit their second home run of the season. Novalis hit a solo bomb to left field in the fifth, while Mack hit a two-run blast - scoring Novalis ahead of him - in the seventh inning. Novalis was 3-5 at the plate, scoring three times and driving in two runs. Second baseman Eric Hoffman reached base five times, he knocked three singles and was hit by a pitch twice. On the mound, Jeff Pietrak made the start and was saddled with the loss. Pietrak's record drops to 0-2 on the season. Senior Dave Cerminaro pitched the final 4.2 innings for Lehigh in relief.

Lehigh returns to action on Thursday afternoon, when the Mountain Hawks visit C.W. Post. Last week in Florida, Lehigh defeated the Pioneers by a 6-0 score. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 3:00 from Long Island, New York.