Lehigh University
Bucknell
Lehigh sweeps Bucknell, win streak now at record 13
3/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Lewisburg, PA – Lehigh ran its winning streak to 13 games as the Mountain Hawks notched their second consecutive sweep over Bucknell in a Patriot League doubleheader on Sunday at the Bison’s West Fields. Lehigh downed the host Bison 5-1 in the opener, and the Mountain Hawks rolled to a 9-2 victory in game two. The pair of wins improves Lehigh’s record to 18-3 on the season (4-0 against Patriot League opponents). The Bison are now 4-9 overall and 0-4 in the league.
In the opener, Lehigh broke a scoreless deadlock in the top of the third when a pair of freshmen ripped back-to-back doubles with two outs in the inning. After center fielder Kate Marvel laced a two out two-bagger, designated hitter Taryn Hanley smoked an RBI double to left-center field to put the Mountain Hawks on the board.
It was Marvel with a double again in the fifth inning that helped spark another Lehigh rally. With two away and Marvel standing on third base, senior Kelly Kliewer singled home Marvel to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
Up 2-1 in the seventh inning, second baseman Jess Young singled home Marvel with her third run of the game. Catcher Mary Wieder brought home two more Lehigh runs with a double to center, making the score 5-1 Lehigh.
Marvel was 4-for-4 with three runs scored in the opener. Wieder and Kliewer were each 3-for-4 at the plate in game one.
Sophomore Heather Hamasaki went the distance in the pitcher’s circle, allowing one unearned run and striking out three to secure her fourth win of the season. She is now 4-0 in 2005.
In game two, Bucknell took its first lead of the series with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take a brief 2-1 advantage on a two-run homer from Lauren Litts.
However, the Bison lead was short-lived. The Mountain Hawks exploded for four runs in the top of the second inning to forge ahead for good. Right fielder Julie Sterrett led off the frame with a solo homer to center field – her third of the season – to tie the game at 2-2. Later in the inning, Kliewer ripped a two-run double to center as the Mountain Hawks scored four times to go up 5-2.
In the fourth, Stephanie Palmieri doubled home Jess Young to give Lehigh a 6-2 lead. In the sixth, it was Palmieri with another RBI double – this time plating Hanley – as Lehigh put the game out of reach.
Four Mountain Hawks collected two hits apiece in the second half of the twinbill, and Jess Young scored three of Lehigh’s nine runs.
Emily Ling came out of the bullpen to pick up her league leading ninth victory of the season. Ling pitched four shutout innings in relief of starter Kate Arico to get the win.
With the four-game sweep of the Bison, Lehigh’s winning streak has now reached 13 games – the longest winning streak in Lehigh softball history.
The Mountain Hawks return to action on Tuesday, when Lehigh visits Penn for a mid-week doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 2:30 pm from
