SUMMERVILLE, S.C. -- Senior Nick Macaione and junior Kevin Boswick combined on a no-hitter and senior Justin Pacchioli delivered a two-run, walk-off home run to lead Lehigh to a 2-0 win against Iona in 11 innings in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Ashley Ridge High School.
A solo home run from sophomore Patrick Donnelly broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning as the Mountain Hawks took the nightcap 7-4 to even their season record at 2-2.
Macaione threw nine scoreless, hitless innings before giving way to Boswick who threw the final two hitless innings in the fourth Lehigh no-hitter since 1960 and the first since Greg Angelo no hit Lafayette on April 11, 2010.
"The team came out with a great attitude today and our pitching was certainly the story," said Lehigh head coach Sean Leary. "Macaione threw amazingly and it was a performance that we needed after yesterday. A no-hitter is such a unique thing and I'm so happy that Nick and Kevin were able to accomplish that feat. There was some clutch hitting in game two to go along with the strong pitching. I'm extremely happy with the effort and result."
Through the first seven innings of game one, Macaione and Iona's Mariano Rivera were locked in a pitcher's duel.
Lehigh had three hits through the first seven frames and had a golden opportunity to score in the third inning but junior Anthony Rinaldi was thrown out at the plate trying to score on an infield single by junior Mike Garzillo.
Macaione hit a batter in the fourth inning and issued a walk and hit another batter in the fifth but worked out of trouble as Jon Budesa grounded into an inning-ending double play. The only other baserunner for Iona against Macaione came in the ninth when Vinny DiMaria reached on an error with two outs. Macaione's final line included nine innings of no-hit, no-run ball with a walk, two hit batters and four strikeouts.
Offensively, Lehigh loaded the bases in both the eighth and ninth innings but was unable to push a run across. Boswick relieved Macaione to open the tenth and worked around an error a walk and a wild pitch with the help of a caught stealing.
After a scoreless top of the 11th, sophomore John Scarr led off the bottom of the frame with a single and two batters later, Pacchioli cracked his first Lehigh home run over the left field wall to give Lehigh its first win of the season and a combined no-hitter.
Boswick earned the victory while Kyle Ackley took the loss for Iona. Rivera allowed three hits in seven innings while striking out 13 but settled for a no decision.
A two out single for Iona's Matt Byrne in the top of the first of game two was the Gaels' first hit of the day. A Garzillo error allowed Iona to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the second but the Mountain Hawks answered with three in the bottom of the third.
Freshman James Bleming drew a leadoff walk, moved to second when senior Mackey Prince walked. A wild pitch moved Bleming to third and a single by Pacchioli brought Bleming home with the tying run. Two batters later Garzillo came up with Pacchioli on third and tripled, scoring Pacchioli with the go-ahead run. A RBI single from Donnelly brought home Garzillo to put Lehigh up 3-1 after three.
Iona scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings on a RBI double by Byrne and a run-scoring single from Budesa to tie the game at 3-3.
Donnelly led off the home sixth with his first career home run, to put the Mountain Hawks back in front. Lehigh tacked on three runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend Lehigh's lead to 7-3. A pair of hit batters and a walk allowed Lehigh to load the bases with one out. Senior John Elson delivered a pinch hit sacrifice fly scoring Garzillo and senior Patrick Walshe followed with a two-run single.
A RBI double from Alex Beckett brought Iona within 7-4 and the Gaels loaded the bases with two outs, but Beckett was thrown out trying to score on a wild pitch giving Lehigh the doubleheader sweep.
Iona out-hit Lehigh 9-7 in the nightcap with Pacchioli and Donnelly notching two hits apiece.
Freshman Peter Moore started for Lehigh and allowed a run on two hits in three innings. Freshman Michael Schwab earned the win, allowing a run on three hits in two innings. Senior Jordan Smith struck out two in 2.1 innings to record the save.
Eddie Macaluso took the loss for Iona allowing four runs on six hits in seven innings. He matched his teammate Rivera with 13 strikeouts.
The two losses drop Iona to 3-8.
