Lehigh University Athletics
Busy weekend for softball includes home opener Saturday
3/24/2011 9:45:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Weather permitting, it will be a busy weekend for the Lehigh softball team as the Mountain Hawks are scheduled to play six games over three days, including a home-opening four game series against Niagara Saturday and Sunday at Kaufman Field. First, Lehigh will make up its doubleheader at Penn that was rescheduled from Wednesday due to inclement weather.
The 8-10 Mountain Hawks recently produced a 3-2 showing at the JMU Days Inn Invitational in Harrisonburg, Virginia March 18-20. During the three day span, Lehigh squared off against Binghamton, James Madison and St. John's, winning two games against the Bearcats and one against the Red Storm, while dropping its two meetings with the host Dukes.
Lehigh are looking to build on a tournament performance that produced 17 runs and 34 hits in five games. Senior Alex Cueva went 6-for-14 with four runs batted in, while sophomore Liz Lucas went 5-for-15 with six RBIs including a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the first game to lead the Mountain Hawks to a 4-3 victory over Binghamton. Lucas continues to lead Lehigh overall offensively with a .400 batting average, 22 hits, eight doubles, four home runs and 23 RBI.
Lehigh's young pitching staff was led by sophomore Rebecca Bliss who pitched to a 2.62 ERA in three appearances last week including a no-hitter against St. John's and an eight strikeout performance in the Mountain Hawks' 9-5 victory over Binghamton. Bliss' no-hitter was the second of her career. She leads the team in wins with four. Freshman Kelsey Lee boasts the lowest ERA on the staff at 2.35, while Ashley Quigley leads in strikeouts, with 23 in 42.1 innings of work.Penn enters the weekend at 5-7, but the Quakers have followed a 5-1 start with a six-game losing streak after dropping doubleheaders to Saint Joseph's and Syracuse last week. Brooke Coloma leads the Penn offense with a .395 batting average and 11 RBI. The Quakers have used five pitchers in the circle this season with Mikenzie Voves (3-2, 3.97) posting the best numbers. Lehigh leads the all-time series versus Penn 34-19-2 and the Mountain Hawks are unbeaten in the last eight meetings with seven wins and a tie. Last year Lehigh swept a doubleheader, winning 2-0 and 10-7 at Kaufman Field.
Niagara comes to Lehigh at 7-5 on the season, after going 3-1 last week at a UMBC Tournament. The Purple Eagles are led by senior Teresa Healy, the reigning MAAC player of the week, who batted .467 with six runs, 12 RBI and five home runs in four games last weekend. Healy has already homered seven times in Niagara's first 12 games. Kim Bryson has been the Purple Eagles' top hurler with a 3-2 record and 2.55 ERA plus a 29-6 strikeout to walk ratio. Bri Allen is also 4-0 in the circle for Niagara.
The Mountain Hawks lead the series against Niagara 10-5, including taking three of four games last year at Kaufman Field.
Lehigh's busy weekend begins Friday at 2:30 when the Mountain Hawks face Penn in a doubleheader at Warren Field in Philadelphia. Saturday's doubleheader versus Niagara, the Mountain Hawks home opener, has been pushed back to a 1:30 p.m. start at Kaufman Field, while Sunday's twinbill is still tentatively scheduled for noon. Saturday's doubleheader will also be broadcast live at Lehighsports.com.
MHT EP 12 - Softball
Friday, March 13
2026 Lehigh Softball Season Preview
Thursday, February 05
Lehigh Sports Central: Softball
Wednesday, April 30
2025 Season Preview: Softball
Thursday, February 06
