Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks prep for busy week in Florida
2/27/2009 10:15:00 AM | Softball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh returns to the diamond on Sunday as the Mountain Hawks kick-off their annual spring break trip to Florida with games against Fairfield and Niagara as part of the Rebel Spring Games. The Mountain Hawks will play six games in three days in Kissimmee, before heading west to wrap-up their trip to the Sunshine State at the prestigious Under Armour Classic, hosted by USF in Clearwater. Lehigh is off to a 3-1 start on the season, but the most important thing on this trip for the Mountain Hawks is to continue to improve and take advantage of the more manageable Florida weather.
“We’ve played some games but we really have yet to practice outside,” explained Lehigh head coach Fran Troyan. “We need reps and we still need to work on a number of things. I’m not concerned about how competitive we will be, although we will try to win, but right now we’re at a point where we’re looking to improve on a daily basis.”
The Mountain Hawks offense was in mid-season form last weekend as Lehigh averaged ten runs per game at the GWU Tournament in North Carolina. After clubbing a school record 26 home runs last year, Lehigh hit eight in its first four games, including three by senior Lisa Sweeney, who was named the Patriot League Player of the Week, after batting .400 with the three homers and nine RBI in four games. All 14 players who had at least one at bad had a hit last weekend and 13 of the 14 drove in at least one run. Among those also off to a fast start for Lehigh are senior Whitney Lowe, who went 6-for-14 with a pair of doubles and four RBI and freshman Julie Fernandez, who clubbed two home runs and drove in five runs on her way to league Rookie of the Week laurels.
In the pitcher’s circle the Mountain Hawks totaled 31 strikeouts in 26 innings of work, which helped offset the 27 runs and 46 hits the Lehigh staff allowed. Sweeney earned two of Lehigh’s three wins while striking out 19 as she was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week as well.
In addition to Fairfield and Niagara, Lehigh will also face Detroit, Tennessee State and St. Bonaventure at the Rebel Spring games, with the Mountain Hawks playing two games a day on Sunday, Monday on Tuesday.
Following a pair of days off, the Mountain Hawks will test themselves against some of the nation’s top teams at the Under Armour Classic. Lehigh is in a pool with 2008 Women’s College World Series participant Virginia Tech, plus Fordham and hosts USF. The Mountain Hawks will play a total of five games in Clearwater, beginning Friday March 6.
Lehigh’s action at the Rebel Spring Games begins Sunday with games against Fairfield (9 a.m.) and Niagara (11 a.m.) from the Osceola Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
Fran Troyan previews Lehigh's trip
