Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh looks to clinch PL title vs. Holy Cross
4/24/2009 7:30:00 AM | Softball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh looks to clinch its 11th straight Patriot League title as the Mountain Hawks wrap-up the regular season with four games against Holy Cross this weekend at Kaufman Field. The Mountain Hawks enter the weekend with a magic number of two, meaning any combination of Lehigh wins or Colgate losses equaling two will give Lehigh the title and allow the Mountain Hawks to host the Patriot League tournament, which begins Thursday, May 7. Colgate ends the regular season with four games against Lafayette this weekend in Hamilton, N.Y.
Last time out the Mountain Hawks (29-16-1, 13-3 PL) showed their resiliency, coming from behind in both ends of a doubleheader sweep against Monmouth on Thursday. Sophomore Alex Cueva highlighted a four-hit day with a game-winning RBI single in the as Lehigh took the opener 4-3 in nine innings, while the Mountain Hawks used a five-run sixth to rally for a 6-3 win in the nightcap.
Freshman Julie Fernandez ripped three hits in Thursday’s opener to raise her average to a league-best .424. Classmate Tenley Halaquist added three hits in game one and drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the tying run in the nightcap. Seniors Whitney Lowe and Alisha Gonzales also enjoyed strong days at the plate and will now prepare for their final regular season games at Kaufman Field, joining Lisa Sweeney, Kristyn Kubiak and Ali Torborg as the five Mountain Hawk seniors who will be recognized prior to Saturday’s first game.
In the circle, Sweeney threw four hitless innings on Thursday, while Curtis pitched five innings to earn the win in game one and then drove in the eventual winning run with a ground out in game two. Sophomore Bri Gaumer earned the win in game two in just her second start of the season.
The Mountain Hawks have excelled in league play, with a .351 team batting average and 96 runs in 16 games. Lehigh has been especially tough at home, where Lehigh is 8-0 with four-game sweeps of Army and Lafayette and the Brown and White have outscored their opponents 46-9 in those eight contests.
Holy Cross enters the weekend very much alive for a spot in the Patriot League tournament. The Crusaders (12-29 overall, 6-10 PL) are currently tied for fourth place with Bucknell, one game behind third place Army and one game ahead of sixth place Lafayette. The top four teams make the Patriot League tournament. Holy Cross dropped a single game to Harvard, 3-0 on Thursday but recently took three-of-four from Lafayette last weekend in Easton.
Sophomore Keeley Seniuk has been the Crusaders top offensive threat with a .325 average, three home runs and 23 RBI. Holy Cross has also used a strong running game to put pressure on its opponents as the Crusaders have stolen 93 bases in 122 attempts, by far the most in the league.
The Crusader pitching staff is led by Caitlin Belanger (4-4, 2.86 ERA) and Detty Audette (4-10, 3.42).
Lehigh has dominated the all-time series, winning 55-of-69 meetings, but Holy Cross did manage a four-game split versus the Mountain Hawks last year in Worcester, Mass. The Mountain Hawks have not lost a regular season home game to the Crusaders since 1999, a streak of 19 straight home regular season wins.
The Mountain Hawks and Crusaders will play doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday at Kaufman Field with first pitch on both days set for 12 p.m.
