For Immediate Release: March 26, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton baseball sweeps Lehigh for second straight day, 3-0 and 5-1
Bearcats complete four-game sweep, stretch win streak to five games

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Binghamton (7-5-1) pitching allowed just one run in 14 innings of baseball and the Bearcats completed a four-game sweep of host Lehigh (8-15) with a 3-0, 5-1 doubleheader triumph at Goodman Campus field. In the process, BU stretched its winning streak to five games.

In the opener, junior Mike Van Gorder (Vestal, N.Y.) took advantage of his first start of the spring, tossing a two-hit shutout for his first win (1-0). Van Gorder struck out four and allowed just two singles, lowering his earned run average to a paltry 1.06 in four appearances this spring. He gave up leadoff singles in the first and fourth innings but got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning and retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings to seal the victory.

Offensively, the Bearcats plated all three runs in the first inning. Senior center fielder Aaron Davis (San Francisco, Calif.) stroked a two-run single to left center after junior first baseman Brendon Hitchcock (Laceyville, Pa.) hit an RBI single to center three batters earlier.

Davis wound up 2-for-3 and five other Bearcats had one hit apiece.

In game two, freshman Jeff Dennis (North Syracuse, N.Y.) allowed no earned runs in six innings to earn his first collegiate win. Dennis, a 6-foot-6 lefty, scattered six hits, struck out two and didn't walk a batter. He lowered his ERA to 1.00 in three appearances thus far this spring.

Binghamton gave him run support with two runs in the second inning and one in each of the third, fifth and seventh innings. The Mountain Hawks scratched out an unearned run on an error and two hits in the fourth inning.

Junior shortstop Justin Smucker (Bird-in-Hand, Pa.) hit a two-run single in the second inning and junior catcher Pat Haughie (St. James, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 with two RBI. He ripped an RBI single in the third inning and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Junior right fielder Jeff Monaco (Binghamton, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 to raise his team-high batting average to .409. Monaco delivered an RBI double in the fifth inning.

Binghamton is scheduled to host Niagara in its home-opening doubleheader at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Varsity Field.