Lehigh University
Army
Mountain Hawks split with Army in PL opener
3/31/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Game one saw the Mountain Hawks out hit the Black Knights 4-3, but Lehigh stranded 11 runners on base, and allowed Army to score a pair of unearned runs in the second inning, that held up as enough for the win.
The Mountain Hawks scored first, as junior Kate Marvel doubled to lead off the home half of the first inning. Marvel moved to second on a fielder’s choice, was sacrificed to third, and eventually scored on a wild pitch from Black Knights starter Chris Stauffer.
Army took the lead in the second inning, when Veronica Barth walked and Kelsie August followed with a bunt single. On the play, a Lehigh throwing error allowed Barth to come around to score the tying run. A wild pitch from Lehigh sophomore Lisa Sweeney allowed August to score the go ahead run.
Stauffer was able to hold the lead for the Black Knights, recording 10 straight outs via the ground ball at one point. She went six and two-thirds innings allowing just one run, while striking out three and working around six walks. The Mountain Hawks threatened in their last at-bat loading the bases, but sophomore pinch hitter Alisha Gonzales popped out to end the game.
Sweeney went the distance in the circle for Lehigh allowing two unearned runs on three hits, while striking out six and walking four. The loss drops Sweeney’s record to 7-4.
The setback was Lehigh’s first Patriot League regular season loss at home since a 2-1 loss to Colgate in 2002. The Mountain Hawks had won 43 straight league regular season games.
The Black Knight’s scored first in the nightcap on an RBI single from shortstop Lindsey Gerheim only to see Lehigh take the lead in the next half inning.
In the bottom of the third senior Lauren Haney delivered a two-out, two-run double that scored sophomore Whitney Lowe and senior Heather Hamasaki. Lehigh added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as senior Mendy Martin doubled to left field, scoring sophomore Taryn Hanley.
Freshman Tiffany Curtis pitched a complete game in the circle, allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out five, to improve to 4-6. Veronica Barth took the loss for Army.
Lehigh out-hit Army 8-4 in game two, with Lowe going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
The Mountain Hawks and Black Knights will wrap-up their four game series with a doubleheader Sunday at Kaufman Field. Due to anticipated inclement weather, the first pitch for game one has been moved up to 10:00 am. Game two of the twinbill, scheduled for a 12:05 first pitch, will be televised live on Service Electric 2 Sports, as well as online at lehighsports.com with streaming video powered by Yahoo! Sports.
