Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh softball set to play ball Saturday in Virginia
2/26/2010 11:00:00 AM | Softball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team heads to Virginia this weekend to open its season at the Lancer Spring Classic hosted by Longwood University in Farmville, Va. The Mountain Hawks were scheduled to play in the Cavalier Invitational but unplayable field conditions at the University of Virginia forced the tournament to split into two separate events. Instead, Lehigh will play a total of four games in two days; taking on Ohio University and Longwood twice.
The Mountain Hawks were picked first in the Patriot League preseason poll after capturing their 11th straight regular season title and fifth tournament title in the last six years in 2009. Lehigh posted a 38-18-1 record and advanced to the finals of the NCAA Gainesville Regional, the second time in the last four years a Lehigh team has reached a regional final.
Lehigh lost an incredibly successful five-player class to graduation, so it will be up to some new faces to pick up the slack.
In the circle, senior Tiffany Curtis ascends to the No. 1 pitcher’s spot, following the graduation of four-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Lisa Sweeney. Curtis was 14-6 in 29 games last year with 113 strikeouts, including a five-inning, one-hit shutout performance versus Florida A&M in the NCAA tournament. Junior Bri Gaumer should see more innings in the circle, and freshman Becca Bliss is expected to make her debut this weekend.
Lehigh will also miss Sweeney’s presence at the plate, along with fellow 2009 tri-captains Alisha Gonzales and Whitney Lowe. Sophomore Julie Fernandez returns at first base. The 2009 Patriot League Rookie of the Year batted .382 with 31 RBI last year and will look to battle back from an injury suffered in the NCAA tournament. Junior third baseman Alex Cueva and sophomore shortstop Jen Colquhoun are expected to provide some extra run production, while sophomore Audra Wood and freshman Rosie Roessel will be looked upon to set the table at the top of the lineup.
The Mountain Hawks will open the weekend, and the season Saturday against Longwood at 11 a.m. The Lancers are 4-4 on the season and are coming off a doubleheader split with Towson on Thursday. Longwood owns also wins over Quinnipiac and Fordham this season and split two games with Morehead State. The Lancers also were swept in a season-opening doubleheader by South Carolnina.
Brooke Short has emerged as a dual threat for the Lancers. She leads the team with a .379 batting average, two home runs and seven RBI and also owns a 1-1 record and 2.23 ERA 15.2 innings in the circle. Briana Wells has logged the most time in the circle for Longwood, with a 3-2 record and 3.41 ERA in 26.2 innings.
Lehigh and Longwood have met once before, an 8-1 Mountain Hawks win in 1996.
Lehigh’s other opponent, Ohio, enters the weekend at 2-7 after taking on some tough competition in its first two weekends of play. The Bobcats opened the season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona, going 0-5 including losses to defending national champion Washington, and super regional participant North Dakota State. Last weekend, Ohio went 2-2 at the Auburn University Tiger Invitational, picking up two wins over SIU-Edwardsville, while dropping games to Auburn and Nebraska.
The Bobcats have struggled at the plate, with a .196 team batting average through nine games. Ohio has scored just 16, runs, five of which were scored by third baseman Sara Clark, who has three doubles and a home run this season. Melissa Bonner and Emily Wethington have split the majority of the innings in the pitcher’s circle for Ohio. Saturday’s game will mark the first meeting between Lehigh and Ohio in softball.
Action at the Lancer Spring Classic begins Saturday when Lehigh squares off against Longwood at 11 a.m. The Mountain Hawks will then face Ohio at 1 p.m. Lehigh’s schedule flips on Sunday as the Mountain Hawks will play the Bobcats at 11 a.m. and the Lancers at 1 p.m.
Lehigh Softball Season Preview with Cassie Willard '11
