Wednesday, March 27
Kaufman Field
2:30:00 PM
Lehigh University
2
vs
5
Hofstra
Lehigh drops two to tough Hofstra squad
3/28/2013 1:29:00 AM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In its final tune-up before the start of the Patriot League season, Lehigh was swept in a doubleheader by a strong Hofstra team Wednesday at Kaufman Field. The Pride took the opener 5-2 and won the nightcap 5-0 to end the Mountain Hawks' 19-game home win streak. Freshman Morgan Decker had three of Lehigh's 11 hits in the doubleheader, while senior Liz Lucas extended her hitting streak to ten games.
With the losses, Lehigh heads into league play at 11-11-1. Hofstra, which reached the NCAA Super Regionals in 2012, extended its winning streak to 13 games, as the Pride improved to 16-8 on the season.
“There's a reason Hofstra recently beat Texas,” Lehigh head coach Fran Troyan said. “They're an outstanding team. They glove it real well, they hit it real well and they run the bases. Galati is an All-American pitcher. I thought we really battled. Our midweek games are intended to challenge ourselves and figure out what we need to work on and from there figure out how to win league games. I feel like today was a step forward as a team.”
Hofstra raced to a 4-0 lead in game one after scoring two runs in each of the first two innings. In the first, the Pride capitalized on three consecutive one out singles plus an error by senior Rosie Roessel, as two runs scored on a Tessa Ziemba single. Maggie Hawkins led off the second with a single and Caryn Bailey followed with a two-run home run to right to put the Pride up four.
All-America pitcher Olivia Galati retired the first 11 Mountain Hawks she faced before Lucas drilled a two-out double to right in the fourth inning.
Bailey extended Hofstra's lead with an RBI double in the sixth before Lehigh battled back with two runs against Galati in the bottom of the frame. Seniors Kristen Mitchell and Rosie Roessel led off with back-to-back singles. After a fielder's choice, Decker's infield single to first scored Mitchell to put the Mountain Hawks on the board. Lucas then followed with a sacrifice fly to left that scored freshman Alexis Watanabe, but Galati got sophomore Cassie Waggy to pop out the second to end the inning.The Mountain Hawks were set down in order by Galati in the seventh as the Hofstra hurler picked up her 15th win of the season. Galati allowed two runs on four hits in a complete game effort. She struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Senior Becca Bliss took the loss for Lehigh, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits as she falls to 5-6. Bliss walked two and struck out two.
Hofstra's Becca Bigler opened game two with a solo home run to center field off sophomore Emily Bausher in the top of the first, while in the second, Hawkins brought home two more Pride runs with a double to center.
Lehigh finished with seven hits in the nightcap and had base runners in every inning, but the Mountain Hawks left ten runners on base. The Mountain Hawks had two runners on in the second, third, and fourth innings but were unable to score against Hofstra starter Victoria Cabral.
“I think we could have scored some runs in the second game,” Troyan said. “We hit a lot of balls right at them. Hopefully the law of averages will come back to be in our favor as we head into the weekend.”
The Pride tacked on single runs on a sacrifice fly by Erin Trippi in the fifth and a RBI single by Galati in the sixth.
Decker and classmate MacKenzie Velasquez had two hits apiece in the nightcap to lead Lehigh, while Lucas singled through the left side to keep her streak intact.
Cabral went the distance on a seven-hitter for Hofstra, walking three and striking out three to improve to 1-0 on the season. Bausher (5-3) was dealt with the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in five innings. She walked three and struck out six before giving way to junior Ashley Quigley who allowed one run in the final two innings.
“We're 0-0 in league play,” Troyan said. “The first 23 games are to get us ready for that. I feel like we're fairly well prepared. As the weather breaks we feel like we're going to get better and better.”
The Mountain Hawks will open Patriot League play with four games at Bucknell, beginning with a doubleheader Saturday with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
Lehigh Sports Central: Softball
Wednesday, April 30
2025 Season Preview: Softball
Thursday, February 06
Lehigh Sports Central: Softball
Wednesday, April 17
