Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh closes out home stand with two vs. Rider
4/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
 |
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh wraps up its 12-game home stand with a non-league doubleheader against the Rider Broncs, Wednesday at Kaufman Field. The Mountain Hawks have been perfect through the first 10 games of the home stand, with four-game sweeps of Patriot League rivals Army and Lafayette plus a doubleheader sweep of Marist last Wednesday. Lehigh has now won 12 straight games overall to improve its record to 25-14-1.
Freshman Julie Fernandez continues to lead the way for the Brown and White with a league leading .418 batting average, including a current 16-for-30 (.533) stretch on the current home stand. Fernandez has also nine RBI during that time, tying her with senior Alisha Gonzales for the team lead over the last ten games. For the season, Fernandez leads the Patriot League with 29 RBI.
Senior Lisa Sweeney has re-emerged as a threat both at the plate and in the pitcher’s circle throughout the home stand. Sweeney is batting .516 on the home stand and has hit in 18 consecutive games overall. In the circle, Sweeney, the reigning Patriot League Pitcher of the Week, has pitched in seven of ten games this home stand with a 6-0 record and a save in those seven appearances. Sweeney had three wins and a save in the four games against Lafayette and has won her last eight decisions overall.
Sweeney’s ERA over the last 10 games has been an impressive 0.78, while junior Tiffany Curtis has also pitched well, with a 4-0 mark and a 0.47 ERA. On Tuesday, Sweeney added her second accolade in as many days as she was named ECAC Pitcher of the Week for her performances against Marist and Lafayette.
Rider enters Wednesday’s action at 9-25 and 3-5 within the MAAC. The Broncs are looking to snap a four-game losing streak but their last two doubleheaders have been postponed due to rain. Rider last played on April 8, losing both games of a doubleheader at Delaware by 2-0 scores.
The Broncs’ top offensive threats include Allyson Melia (.339 avg.), Brittany Eckett (.304, 6 HR, 15 RBI) and Candice Harris (7 HR, 18 RBI). Rider has struggled in the pitcher’s circle, with a team ERA of 4.39. Rachael Matreale has started 18 of 34 games in the circle, and is 5-11 with a 3.59 ERA. The Broncs have been very familiar with the Patriot League this season, going 1-2 versus both Lafayette and Army, and beating Colgate 9-4 on March 15.
Rider leads the all-time series versus Lehigh 31-11, but the Mountain Hawks have held their own recently, winning four of the last six meetings. Last year the teams split a doubleheader in New Jersey, with Lehigh winning the opener 12-1 before dropping game two 3-2.
This weekend, Lehigh looks to clinch a Patriot League tournament berth when the Mountain Hawks travel to Lewisburg to face Bucknell.
Wednesday’s doubleheader between Lehigh and Rider gets underway at 3 p.m. from Kaufman Field
