Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh heads to N.J. for two against Monmouth
4/13/2010 3:30:00 PM | Softball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With the annual rivalry series with Lafayette looming this weekend, the Lehigh softball team returns to action on Wednesday as the Mountain Hawks continue their 12-game road trip with a doubleheader at Monmouth. The Mountain Hawks split their four-game series with league-leading Army over the weekend and will used Wednesday’s twinbill to prepare for four critical league games against their rivals in Easton Saturday and Sunday.
Lehigh (21-11) won the series opener and series finale versus Army to remain one game behind the Black Knights in the league standings after two weekends of play. Freshman Rebecca Bliss tossed a five-inning no-hitter in the series finale in a game the Mountain Hawks desperately needed to avoid losing a four-game series to a league foe for the first time since 1998. Bliss’ no-hitter was Lehigh’s eighth since 2004 and the first since Tiffany Curtis’ perfect game in March 2009.
Bliss went 3-1 in four appearances last week as Lehigh also swept a doubleheader from Rider last Tuesday. Despite the freshman’s strong efforts in the circle, offense was the key to the Mountain Hawks success. Lehigh averaged almost ten runs per game in its four wins while it totaled just two runs in the two losses to Army.
Sophomore Julie Fernandez led Lehigh at the plate with nine hits in 14 at-bats last week, good for a .643 average. Among the nine hits were two doubles and Fernandez’s first home run of the season in a loss to Army. Fernandez is currently riding a 23-game hitting streak.
Junior Alex Cueva and freshman Liz Lucas totaled 16 hits and 17 RBI last week, with Cueva batting .421 with seven RBI and Lucas hitting .400 with two home runs and ten RBI, highlighted by a 3-for-4 effort with five RBI in Lehigh’s series opening win over Army.
Monmouth enters Wednesday’s doubleheader at 15-10 overall. The Hawks sit atop the Northeast Conference standings with an 8-1 conference record. Monmouth went 5-1 last week, sweeping a non-league doubleheader from Seton Hall on Wednesday before taking two from Long Island on Saturday and splitting a twinbill with Wagner on Sunday. The Hawks picked up two NEC weekly awards with Melissa Mehrer recognized as NEC Pitcher of the Week and Christine Scherr earning Rookie of the Week honors.
The Hawks offense is paced by Jessica Nicola who is batting .375 with four home runs and 16 RBI. Mehrer has been Monmouth’s top pitcher with a 9-5 record and 3.02 ERA, while Lauren Sulick is the Hawks’ No. 2 in terms of innings and boasts a 6-3 mark and 2.33 ERA.
Lehigh leads the all-time series with Monmouth 14-8 and has won six straight over the Hawks, including a doubleheader sweep last April at Kaufman Field where the Mountain Hawks won 4-3 in eight innings and 6-3 in six innings.
Wednesday’s doubleheader gets underway at 3 p.m. from MU Softball Park in West Long Branch, N.J.
