Lehigh University
USF
Sweeney blanks USF; Lehigh splits on Saturday
3/7/2009 8:00:00 PM | Softball
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CLEARWATER, Fla. – Senior Lisa Sweeney fired a complete-game three-hit shutout and went 3-for-3 at the plate as Lehigh picked up its first win of the Under Armour Classic by blanking host USF 3-0 Saturday afternoon at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. The Mountain Hawks had to settle for a split however, as Ball State used a four-run fifth inning to beat Lehigh 5-1 in Saturday’s second game. The Mountain Hawks are now 8-6 on the season.
After suffering two heartbreaking one-run losses on Friday, Sweeney put the Mountain Hawks on her back on the way to the win over a USF team that opened the tournament with two wins on Friday. Sweeney allowed just three hits and did not issue a walk while striking out eight Bulls as she improves to 5-2 on the year.
Offensively, Sweeney put Lehigh ahead in the fourth with an RBI triple to right, which scored pinch-runner Ali Torborg. In the seventh, Sweeney helped the Mountain Hawks add to their lead as she led off with a double and two batters late pinch-runner Tenley Halaquist scored on a double to centerfield by freshman Jen Colquhoun.
Bree Spence went the first six innings in the circle for USF, allowing an earned run on five hits, while striking out nine. She falls to 3-1 with the loss.
Lehigh was unable to carry the momentum into its second game of the day against Ball State. The Mountain Hawks out-hit the Cardinals 12-8 but were done in by the 11 runners Lehigh left on base.
Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, Lehigh tied the game at one when senior Whitney Lowe delivered an RBI single that scored freshman Audra Wood.
Ball State took the lead on a fifth inning RBI single by Allie Pennock and Alicia Barkley followed with a two-run double and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Cardinals ahead by four. Lehigh had chances with multiple runners on base in the third, fifth and sixth innings, but the Mountain Hawks could do no further damage against Laura Masch, who nabbed her first win of the season.
Junior Tiffany Curtis allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out seven as she falls to 3-2. Offensively, freshman Julie Fernandez had three of Lehigh’s 12 hits against Ball State.
The Mountain Hawks will wrap-up play at the Under Armour Classic on Sunday when they face Evansville. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. from the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
