LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven baseball team failed to defend its own turf during the 2023 home-opener on Thursday, March 16 against Bloomsburg University. The Bald Eagles came up short, 7-5.
Originally scheduled for Friday, March 10, the game was postponed due to weather conditions. The Bald Eagles, ready for action, were looking to secure their eighth win of the season.
Bloomsburg started off strong, scoring three runs. However, Lock Haven quickly retaliated during the bottom of the first. Shortstop Gavin Troutman singled to center field and eagerly advanced to second following a hit from Francisco Taveras. Troutman, then, secured his spot on third base after an error by Husky’s first baseman.
Outfielder Justin Lichtenwalner sent a double into center field, helping Taveras to second and allowing Troutman to score Lock Haven’s first run. Taveras and Lichtenwalner later tied the game, 3-3. First baseman Zach Kaatz loaded the bases with his single to right field. Next up to bat, catcher Garrett Nepert flied the ball out to center field, pushing Blaise Zeiders to home base. At the end of the first inning, the Bald Eagles led 4-3.
The second and third innings proved to be unsuccessful for both Lock Haven and Bloomsburg with neither team scoring additional runs.
The Huskies tied the game at the top of the fourth after Bryce Porter scored a run off of Brady Ebbert’s single. Once again, the Bald Eagles prevailed while up to bat. Troutman scored his second run of the game, inching Lock Haven closer to victory with a 5-4 lead.
Bloomsburg’s Ebbert closed the gap with his run in the top of the sixth. Determined to break the tie, Troutman ran home after Lichtenwalner’s hit to center field. However, he was unable to secure the 6-5 lead. The umpire claimed Troutman left third base prematurely, redacting his third run. The call was heavily debated by Troutman and Coach Heath Stover, but it remained unchanged following the play’s review.
After no advancement in the seventh inning, Bloomsburg gained ground in the eighth. Dansby Keenan scored his first-game run followed by Ebbert. Lock Haven trailed, 7-5, in favor of the Huskies.
The Bald Eagles were ultimately unable to bounce back in the remaining innings. While the ninth proved to be promising for Lock Haven defensively, Bloomsburg outperformed the Bald Eagles, quickly capping three outs within four short plays during the bottom of the ninth.
UP NEXT
The Bald Eagles will travel to West Chester University on Friday, March 17 for a nine-inning scheduled game at 2 p.m.. Lock Haven will then host a doubleheader with the Golden Rams on Saturday, March 18 beginning at noon.
Kerri Hoover
Kerri Hoover is in her third year working on the Eagle Eye staff and currently serves as the President and Editor-in-Chief. As a Lock Haven University senior, she majors in Communication with a triple-concentration focus in Advertising & Public Relations, Electronic Media, and Journalism. With her versatile skill set, Kerri hopes to pursue a career working as a social media content creator, journalist, or video editor. On the rare occasion Kerri isn’t working in the newsroom, she can be found hanging out with her friends, working at the PUB, or creating content for the LHU Media and Journalism Department.
