Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks welcome Niagara for four games
3/26/2010 10:45:00 AM | Softball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With the start of the Patriot League season now just one week away, the Lehigh softball team continues its preparation for league play by hosting Niagara in a four-game series Saturday and Sunday at Kaufman Field. The Mountain Hawks opened up their home schedule by sweeping a doubleheader from Penn on Wednesday, and are now in the midst of a 12-game home stand that will conclude next weekend when Lehigh opens league play against Colgate.
Behind a strong pitching performance from senior Tiffany Curtis and clutch hitting from the two, three and four hitters in Lehigh’s lineup the Mountain Hawks moved to 9-7 on the season with the wins over Penn on Wednesday, taking game one 2-0 before rallying for a 10-7 win in the nightcap. The heart of Lehigh’s order, junior third baseman Alex Cueva, sophomore first baseman Julie Fernandez and sophomore shortstop Jen Colquhoun combined to go 10-for-16 at the plate against Penn with three doubles, a home run and eight RBI.
Colquhoun complemented Curtis’ one-hit shutout in game one with a two-run first-inning home run, for the only scoring in the ballgame. In the nightcap, the Mountain Hawks led 6-1 before the Quakers scored six runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Lehigh regained the lead as Cueva’s second double of the game scored the tying run and Fernandez followed with a sacrifice fly that played the go-ahead run. Senior Brooke Lewis also went 2-for-3 with three RBI in the win for Lehigh.
Fernandez continues to pace the offense with a .429 batting average, followed by Cueva at .389. Colquhoun and Lewis are both hitting .333 on the season, with Colquhoun leading the Brown and White in home runs (three) and RBI (17).
Curtis picked up the win in both games on Wednesday, as she moved to 6-3. Junior Bri Gaumer started game two for the Mountain Hawks and pitched well for five innings before running into trouble in the sixth.
Niagara enters the weekend series at 5-7 overall. Like Lehigh, the Purple Eagles competed at the UMBC Spring Classic last weekend as Niagara went 2-2 including a 7-3 win over the Mountain Hawks last Saturday.
Teresa Healy was named MAAC Player of the Week after going 7-for-13 with seven RBI last week. Healy went 3-for-3 against Lehigh last week and is currently hitting .278 with three home runs and nine RBI. Kristin Kill leads Purple Eagle regulars in hitting with a .364 average, while Kristin Sito leads in home runs (four) and RBI (ten).
The Purple Eagles have had some struggles in the pitcher’s circle as the team currently holds a 6.92 earned run average. Cassie Stone has seen the most work, going 3-4 with a 5.72 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 39.1 innings of work.
Lehigh leads the series versus Niagara 6-5, with the teams splitting four games last season. The Purple Eagles edged the Mountain Hawks 4-3 in eight innings at the Rebel Spring Games, before Lehigh won two-of-three games last March at Kaufman Field.
The Mountain Hawks and Purple Eagles will play doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday at Kaufman Field with first pitch both days set for 12 p.m. Sunday’s twinbill will be broadcast online at Lehighsports.com.
Lehigh-Niagara Preview
