Lehigh University Athletics
Bliss named Patriot League Pitcher of the Week
4/12/2010 9:30:00 PM | Softball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After hurling Lehigh’s eighth no-hitter since 2004, freshman Rebecca Bliss was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Week, it was announced on Monday. Bliss tossed a five-inning no-hitter as Lehigh downed Army 8-0 in the final game of a four game series which the teams split at West Point, N.Y. The right-hander appeared in four of Lehigh’s six games last week earning a pair of wins in relief as the Mountain Hawks swept a doubleheader from Rider last Tuesday.
For the week, Bliss was 3-1 with a 0.75 earned run average. The Escondido, California native allowed a total of 12 hits and five walks while striking out nine in 18.2 innings of work. In Sunday’s series finale with Army, Bliss faced just two batters over the minimum and allowed just two walks in five innings while striking out two Black Nights. Bliss received plenty of help from her defense who preserved the no-hit effort with several impressive defensive plays.
Bliss’ no-hitter was the first for Lehigh since Tiffany Curtis threw a perfect game versus Saint Bonaventure on March 3, 2009 and the first for a Mountain Hawk freshman since Lisa Sweeney ’09 threw three no-hitters and a perfect game as a freshman in 2006.
Earlier in the week, Bliss totaled seven innings of one-run relief to earn the win in both ends of Lehigh’s doubleheader sweep of Rider. Bliss threw four shutout innings in game one, as Lehigh prevailed 8-6 in eight innings. In game two, Bliss came in after two innings and yielded just one run, which came after Lehigh built a 13-5 lead as the Mountain Hawks prevailed 13-6 in a five-inning, darkness-shortened game.
Bliss also pitched well in her only loss of the weekend, a 1-0 setback to Army in Saturday’s second game. She allowed just one run on seven hits while walking one and striking out four, but Lehigh’s offense could not scratch out a run against the Black Knights, forcing Bliss to take the hard-luck loss.
For the season, Bliss is now 6-4 with an earned run average that has dropped to 4.58. Bliss has made drastic improvements in the last three weeks. Since Lehigh wrapped-up action at the UMBC Spring Classic on March 21, Bliss is 5-2 with a 2.28 ERA in her last nine appearances.
Lehigh (21-11, 5-3 Patriot League) went 4-2 in six games last week. The Mountain Hawks continue their 12-game road trip on Wednesday when they travel to Monmouth for a non-league doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set for 3 p.m. from West Long Branch, N.J.
Image produced from video shot by Jeff Tourial/Lehigh Athletics
