DAVIDSON, N.C. (Interstat) — The Davidson Wildcats erupted for eight runs across the first two innings and later broke a tie with a five-run seventh to outslug the Lehigh Mountain Hawks 14-9 in a nonconference baseball game Friday evening at T. Henry Wilson, Jr. Field.

The game, a back-and-forth affair that defied a pregame projection of a low-scoring contest, featured 30 combined hits and saw the lead change hands twice.

Davidson struck first and forcefully against Lehigh starter Christopher Nell. After two quick outs in the bottom of the first, the Wildcats strung together four consecutive hits. Matthew Manjooran’s RBI single opened the scoring, Scotty Edwards followed with a two-run double, and Theo Loughlin capped the rally with an RBI double to stake Davidson to a 4-0 lead.

Lehigh responded with a single run in the second on an RBI single by Trystan Crawford, but Davidson answered with four more in their half of the frame. Two runs scored on a balk and a wild pitch before Loughlin struck again, delivering a two-run double to center to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 8-1.

The Mountain Hawks began their comeback in the third on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Cochran. They then seized the lead with a five-run outburst in the fourth, capitalizing on a Davidson error. Edwin Betances drove in one with a single, Silvio Giardina plated two with a single, and Cochran completed the rally with a two-run single, putting Lehigh ahead 9-8.

Davidson reliever Simon Yochum entered to stop the bleeding, striking out Aidan Quinn to end the fourth. Yochum was brilliant in relief, tossing three scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six to stabilize the game.

Jake Mulvehill provided similar relief for Lehigh, taking over in the fourth and throwing three hitless innings while striking out six. The Wildcats managed to tie the game at 9-9 in the fifth without a hit, scoring on a bases-loaded walk by Alex Torreso.

The game remained deadlocked until the decisive bottom of the seventh. With Ryan Holman on in relief for Lehigh, the Wildcats loaded the bases with one out. Manjooran then cleared them, crushing a three-run double down the left-field line to put Davidson ahead for good at 12-9. The Wildcats added two insurance runs in the eighth on a two-run single by Jamie Daly.

Davidson’s Carson Taggart earned the win with three innings of relief, allowing two runs on two hits. Holman took the loss for Lehigh.

The most important part of the game was Davidson’s five-run seventh inning, which broke a 9-9 tie. After Lehigh’s bullpen had silenced the Wildcats’ bats for three innings, Davidson rallied with two outs. Following a strikeout and a flyout, three straight Wildcats reached, setting the stage for Manjooran’s go-ahead, three-run double. That swing shifted momentum permanently back to the home side and provided the cushion needed to secure the victory.

Loughlin, who entered the game in a 1-for-8 slump over his previous four contests, led Davidson by going 2 for 4 with a walk, two doubles and three RBIs. Manjooran drove in four runs, while Daly had three hits and two RBIs.

For Lehigh, Cochran went a perfect 3 for 3 with three RBIs, and Giardina added three hits and two RBIs.

With the win, Davidson improved to 5-7 on the season. Lehigh fell to 2-7. The teams are scheduled to continue their series Saturday in Kannapolis, North Carolina.