Lehigh University
Army
Late game heroics helps Army sweep Lehigh
3/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
– Lehigh had a rough start to the Patriot League season, as they dropped a tough doubleheader 3-2 and 1-0 Saturday at Army. The Mountain Hawks lost both games by only a single run, and Army scored the winning runs in both games in their last at bat.
In the first game, Lehigh took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh, thanks to stellar pitching by Emily Ling and clutch hitting in the top of the seventh by Liz Gripp. Gripp gave the Mountain Hawks the lead with her sac fly in the top of the seventh, but in the bottom of the inning the Black Knights were able to capitalize on a Lehigh defensive mistakes.
With two on and one out, Army’s Lauren Gobar laid down a sacrifice, but Lehigh catcher Mary Wieder overthrew third base and two runs scored to give Army the game. Ling (7-2) took the loss, though she pitched well throwing six innings and giving up three runs on six hits, striking out six.
The second game featured a pitchers’ duel between Lehigh freshman Heather Hamasaki and Army’s Ashlie Christian. Both starters threw zeros through six innings, but in the bottom of the seventh Darcy Wilson hit her first home run of the year for Army, a walk-off job that gave the Black Knights a sweet. Hamasaki pitched brilliantly up until then, and for the game went six and a third innings, giving up just four hits and the one run. Christian pitched beautifully for the win, shutting the Mountain Hawks out in seven innings and giving up only three hits while striking out six.
Lehigh will have a chance to avenge the close losses on Sunday, as they complete the four game series with a doubleheader beginning at
