Lehigh University
Lafayette
Mountain Hawks sweep archrival on Sunday
4/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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EASTON, Pa. – Led by strong pitching and an explosive offense the Lehigh softball team swept its archrival Lafayette on Sunday to finish off the four-game series with three wins. In the first game, senior Tiffany Curtis pitched a complete game three-hitter to help the Mountain Hawks pick up the 5-2 win. Lehigh broke out its bats in the second game and scored 12 runs in two innings to come away with a 12-1 win. With the two wins on Sunday, the Mountain Hawks improve to 24-14 (8-4) overall, while Lafayette falls to 14-25 (2-10) with the losses.
In Sunday’s opener, Lehigh built an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first behind some power hitting from sophomore Jen Colquhoun and freshman Liz Lucas. After junior Alex Cueva reached base on a fielder’s choice, Colquhoun connected for a two-run home run to get things going for the Brown and White. Lucas capped off the inning with solo shot to bring the score to 3-0.
After the first inning both teams would go scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when the Mountain Hawks were able to add two insurance runs. Cueva opened the inning with a single and sophomore Hana Harrison came into pinch run for her. Sophomore Julie Fernandez reached on a fielder’s choice and Harrison was able to advance to second safely off an error by Lafayette pitcher Kasey Karr. Colquhoun singled in Harrison for her third RBI of the day and after a few errors by the Leopards, the Brown and White would add a final run.
Curtis carried a one-hitter into the seventh, but the Leopards were able to finally get their offense going against her. Stacey Kushner opened the inning with a double to center field and Stacey Dorn got Lafayette on the board with a two-run home run. Curtis was able to recover and get the next three batters out to end the game.
The Mountain Hawks finished the first game with only five hits, but that was all they needed as Curtis did the rest. Curtis went all seven innings, allowing only three hits and striking out two. Colquhoun led the Lehigh offense with two of its five hits and three RBI. Fernandez finished the game 0-for-2 at the plate, which ended her hitting streak at 27 games.
In the series finale, both pitchers got off to strong starts, but the Mountain Hawks’ offense would come alive for eight runs in the third inning. Cueva started off the scoring for the Brown and White with a three-run home run that drove in freshman Rosie Roessel and sophomore Audra Wood. Lehigh loaded the bases and senior Brooke Lewis was walked to bring in its fourth run of the game. After the Leopards finally recorded an out, sophomore Tenley Halaquist reached base on a fielder’s choice that brought in another two runs. Freshman Jacqi Kennelly drove in the final two runs of the inning with a single to give the Mountain Hawks an 8-0 lead.
Lafayette responded in the top of the fourth with one run, but Lehigh would answer right back in the bottom of the inning. Lewis singled in Fernandez, who started the inning with a double to make the score 9-1. With two runners on, Halaquist came up big again with a three-run homer to increase Lehigh’s lead to 12-1.
Junior Briana Gaumer relieved freshman Rebecca Bliss in the top of the fifth and secured the game for the Mountain Hawks. Bliss (7-5) earned the win on the mound, as she went four innings, allowing four hits and striking out four. Taking the loss for the Leopards was Christine Hilcken who went 1.2 innings and allowed seven earned runs.
Halaquist led the Mountain Hawks with a game-high five RBI, while Cueva contributed three. The Brown and White out-hit Lafayette 10-5 with Cueva and Fernandez finishing with multi-hit games.
Lehigh will return home to Kaufman Field and host Delaware Wednesday afternoon in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. The games can be heard live on Lehighsports.com with Jeff Tourial and Steve Lomangino on the call.
Lehigh - Lafayette Post-Game Extra
