KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Interstat) — The Davidson Wildcats erupted for eight runs over the sixth and seventh innings to overcome an early five-run deficit and defeat the Lehigh Mountain Hawks 13-7 in non-conference baseball Saturday at Intimidators Stadium.

The Wildcats, who improved to 6-7, secured their second straight win in the weekend series after a 14-9 victory Friday. Lehigh dropped to 2-8 with its fifth consecutive loss.

The most important part of the game came in the bottom of the seventh inning, which broke open a contest Davidson had already led 9-7. With two runners on, Wildcats second baseman Matthew Manjooran launched a three-run homer to left-center field off reliever Ralph Gariano, extending Davidson’s lead to 12-7 and effectively sealing the victory. The blast capped a pivotal two-inning stretch where Davidson turned a 7-5 deficit into a commanding advantage.

Lehigh had seized control early, battering Davidson starter C. Cavanaugh. Raffaele Rogers hit a solo home run in the first inning, and Dom Patrizi added another solo shot in the second. The Mountain Hawks capitalized on patience and timely hitting, scoring two more in the first on a Trystan Crawford RBI single and adding runs in the fourth and fifth on a sacrifice fly by Patrizi, an RBI single by Rogers and another sacrifice fly by Crawford. Lehigh finished with 12 hits but stranded multiple runners.

Davidson began its methodical comeback in the second inning, chasing Lehigh starter Cole Leaman without recording an out. The Wildcats scored four runs on just one hit — a double by B. Fritch — by drawing four walks, a hit-by-pitch and benefiting from a balk by reliever Sam Fairhurst. Fredy Diaz delivered an RBI double in the third to cut the Lehigh lead to 7-5.

Fairhurst provided critical relief for Lehigh, entering with the bases loaded in the second and stifling the Wildcats’ offense. Over 3 1/3 innings, he allowed no hits and one unearned run while striking out four, keeping the Mountain Hawks ahead through the middle innings.

Davidson finally broke through against the Lehigh bullpen in the sixth. Anthony Torreso tripled home an unearned run, and Forrest Lietz followed with an RBI single to tie the game 7-7. T. Loughlin then gave the Wildcats their first lead with an RBI single, and a sacrifice fly by G. Thomas made it 9-7.

After Manjooran’s decisive three-run homer in the seventh, Davidson added a final run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Torreso.

Davidson’s pitching stabilized after the rocky start. Jacob Vokal allowed two earned runs over 3 2/3 innings of middle relief to earn the win. Ivan Hoyt was dominant in closing it out, pitching 2 1/3 perfect innings with three strikeouts to secure the game.

Lehigh’s Rogers finished 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Patrizi drove in two runs with his homer and a sacrifice fly. For Davidson, Lietz went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored, while Diaz drove in two runs. Manjooran’s three RBIs on his lone hit proved the most impactful.

The teams conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon.