Lehigh University
Missouri-Kansas City
Sweeney no-hits Maine as Lehigh sweeps
3/9/2006 3:00:00 PM | Softball
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Sweeney and
With the bases loaded and two outs in the second, Sweeney fanned Tara Vilardo to escape the jam. In all, she retired the last 19 batters she faced on the afternoon.
Bennis was equally good, holding Lehigh to just one hit – a second inning single by Mary Wieder. After seven innings, the international tie breaker was put into play. Wieder began the top of the eighth on second base. Junior Julie Sterrett sacrificed her to third, and then junior pinch-hitter Lauren Haney delivered a sacrifice fly to center to plate the only run of the game.
Earlier in the day, Lehigh held off UMKC in an equally exciting game that featured substantially more offense. The Mountain Hawks raced to a 3-0 lead behind an RBI groundout from junior Heather Hamasaki and a two run single by sophomore Kate Marvel.
The Kangaroos scored two in the third inning and three in the fourth to keep things close, but Lehigh scored at least one run in each of the first five innings. The Mountain Hawks led 8-5 heading to the top of the seventh before UMKC battled back with two more runs to close the gap, but then Sweeney entered the game with two outs and struck out Taia Jones to end the game, and notch her first career save.
Junior Stefanie Forlenza got the start for Lehigh, allowing seven runs, only two of which were earned, in six and two-thirds innings to earn her first win of the season.
Marvel went 3-for-4 against UMKC with a triple and three RBI. Wieder added a base hit and two RBI. The senior catcher is the only Mountain Hawk to hit safely in every game this season.
Lehigh will continue play at the Rebel Spring Games with two games on Friday. The Mountain Hawks will take on regional rival
