BLOOMFIELD, N.J. – Despite the cold temperatures, the Lock Haven baseball team’s (4-3) bats were red-hot today as the Bald Eagles traveled to New Jersey on Sunday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader against Bloomfield College (1-5). After a thrilling comeback in game one, the Bald Eagles put an exclamation point the sweep with an 18-0 win in game two.

Joe Shannon (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent (Mercer CC)) kicked off his 3-3 day in the first inning with one of his three RBI’s on the day to give LHU an early 1-0 advantage.

Bloomfield responded emphatically over the first and third innings to take a 6-1 lead, but a Justin Lichtenwalner (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) three-run homerun, Blaise Zeiders (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) stealing home, and a Garrett Nepert (Preston, Md./Colonel Richardson (Chesapeake County CC)) RBI single tied things up at 6-6.

In the top of the sixth, it was Shannon who took a bases loaded walk and advanced on a wild pitch to drive in the winning runs for the Bald Eagles. The Bears got a run back in their half of the sixth, but Garrett Starr (Dubois, Pa./Dubois) locked things down for the 8-7 LHU win.

Starr came in for starter David Keller (Oreland, Pa/Christopher Dock Mennonite), and pitched five strong innings of relief allowing just two hits and one run while striking out five.

Shannon and Lichtenwalner led the offensive effort and both drove in three runs and racked up three hits each.

Brendan Jordan (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy (Bucks County CC)) collected the final Bald Eagle RBI. While Nepert and Gavin Troutman (Boyertown, Pa./Oley Valley) both grabbed two hits as LHU piled up eight runs on 11 hits.

The Bald Eagle bats picked up right where they left off in game one, and erupted for 18 runs in game two, the most for The Haven since a 19-run outburst against Indiana (Pa.) on February 19, 2022.

LHU started quickly with four runs in the first inning and three more in the third to jump out to an early 7-0 lead.

The fifth inning was hitting season for the Bald Eagles, as LHU plated 11 runs in the to cap a lopsided 18-0 win and seal the doubleheader sweep.

Francisco Taveras (Muhlenberg, Pa./Muhlenberg (Lehigh Carbon CC)) and Shannon were scintillating at the plate and each drove in a career-high four RBI’s on a pair of hits.

Troutman collected three more hits in his afternoon on a 3-4 day, and also added a walk. Zach Kaatz (Stafford, Va./Mountain View) hammered in three RBI’s, and the trio of Lichtenwalner, Jordan and Jaxson Pupo (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) all drove in a pair of runs.

Nepert collected the last of the LHU RBI’s, and Pupo and Taveras both went yard for the Bald Eagles.

LHU racked up their 18 runs on 16 hits led by Troutman’s three. Taveras, Shannon, Kaatz, Lichtenwalner and Nepert each tallied a pair of base hits.

Not to be overshadowed by the offensive output, Kevin Worek (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Abington) started on the mound and pitched five scoreless innings and allowed just three hits while striking out five.

Aedan Walter (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) pitched the final two innings of relief to combine for the shutout. Walter allowed no hits and struck out three batters as the LHU pitching staff completely stifled the Bears.

Lock Haven hits the diamond again next weekend (March 4-5) for a three-game weekend series against Chestnut Hill. The Bald Eagles face the Griffins in a doubleheader (7/7 inn.) on Saturday before capping the weekend with a nine-inning clash on Sunday.