Saturday, March 29
11:30 AM
Lehigh University
vs
Lafayette
Mountain Hawks host rival Lafayette, Saturday's games moved up to 9:30 a.m.
3/28/2014 1:25:00 PM | Softball
Audio | Live Stats | The Rivalry: Lehigh vs. Lafayette
BETHLEHEM, Pa. –The Lehigh softball team will continue Patriot League play this weekend when it hosts rival Lafayette in a three-game series. With the threat of rain Saturday, the series-opening doubleheader has been moved up to a 9:30 a.m. start from Kaufman Field. Sunday's series finale is still set for noon.
The Mountain Hawks have won seven straight games and are 11-10 overall and 3-0 in Patriot League after a three-game sweep over Colgate last weekend in their opening Patriot League series. The series was highlighted by a landslide 26-1 victory in the series opener, which were the most runs scored by Lehigh in a single game since 1979. The Mountain Hawks were slated to play a doubleheader against Villanova on Wednesday, but adverse weather conditions caused the game to be postponed.
Sophomore third baseman Morgan Decker said the Mountain Hawks are confident going into the series this weekend.
"I think that the rivalry game does bring a different type of energy, but we make it our goal as a team to come out with high energy every game against any opponent," she said. "The rivalry to me is more about the incredible tradition between our two schools than the actual game because I try to approach each game with the same mentality."
Decker led Lehigh's offense in the series against Colgate; hitting 7-for-9 with one double, one home run and seven RBI's. A two-time Patriot League Player of the Week this season, Decker is batting .404 and leads the Mountain Hawks with three home runs and 21 RBIs.
Sophomore Alexis Watanabe has provided a spark at the top of the Lehigh lineup, with a .347 average and a team-best 26 hits and 16 runs scored.
Freshman Christine Campbell and senior Ashley Quigley both have four wins from the pitcher's circle and have 2.01 and 2.57 ERAs, respectively. Junior Emily Bausher is 3-5 on the season, but threw a one-hitter in Saturday's landslide win over Colgate. Lehigh has utilized a balanced pitching attack with its top three pitchers all averaging around 44 innings of work this season.
Quigley said the team is looking to repeat upon last weekend's success and continue Lehigh's winning ways in rivalry games.
"It's important to win this weekend so we can honor the tradition and importance our school [places on] the rivalry, on top of gaining important Patriot League wins," Quigley said.
Lehigh is batting .292 as a team this season and has outscored its opponents 92-57.
Lafayette is 2-13 overall and 1-2 in the Patriot League after losing two of three against Holy Cross in its Patriot League opener last weekend. As a team the Leopards are only hitting .197 on the season and have been outscored by their opponents 124-35.
Despite the Leopards offensive struggles, Victoria Vergona and Kristen Berger have been hitting well so far this season. Vergona is batting .306 with 11 hits including two doubles and Berger is batting .256 and leads the Leopards with 12 hits and nine RBIs. Melissa Robinson has earned both wins on the pitchers circle for the Leopards and has a 4.78 ERA with 13 strikeouts.
Lehigh leads Lafayette 83-23 in all rivalry games and have won 21 of the last 23 meetings. The Mountain Hawks bested the Leopards 3-1 in last season's series after dropping a close first game 2-1.
"Our big goal is to win the Patriot League Championship and compete at the [highest] level our ability and preparation allows us to play," Decker said.
Live audio for every game of this weekend's series will be broadcast online at Lehighsports.com
Following the series, the Mountain Hawks will travel to Lawrenceville, N.J. next Wednesday for a midweek doubleheader against Rider.
Story by Connor Tait '14
BETHLEHEM, Pa. –The Lehigh softball team will continue Patriot League play this weekend when it hosts rival Lafayette in a three-game series. With the threat of rain Saturday, the series-opening doubleheader has been moved up to a 9:30 a.m. start from Kaufman Field. Sunday's series finale is still set for noon.
The Mountain Hawks have won seven straight games and are 11-10 overall and 3-0 in Patriot League after a three-game sweep over Colgate last weekend in their opening Patriot League series. The series was highlighted by a landslide 26-1 victory in the series opener, which were the most runs scored by Lehigh in a single game since 1979. The Mountain Hawks were slated to play a doubleheader against Villanova on Wednesday, but adverse weather conditions caused the game to be postponed.
Sophomore third baseman Morgan Decker said the Mountain Hawks are confident going into the series this weekend.
"I think that the rivalry game does bring a different type of energy, but we make it our goal as a team to come out with high energy every game against any opponent," she said. "The rivalry to me is more about the incredible tradition between our two schools than the actual game because I try to approach each game with the same mentality."
Decker led Lehigh's offense in the series against Colgate; hitting 7-for-9 with one double, one home run and seven RBI's. A two-time Patriot League Player of the Week this season, Decker is batting .404 and leads the Mountain Hawks with three home runs and 21 RBIs.
Sophomore Alexis Watanabe has provided a spark at the top of the Lehigh lineup, with a .347 average and a team-best 26 hits and 16 runs scored.
Freshman Christine Campbell and senior Ashley Quigley both have four wins from the pitcher's circle and have 2.01 and 2.57 ERAs, respectively. Junior Emily Bausher is 3-5 on the season, but threw a one-hitter in Saturday's landslide win over Colgate. Lehigh has utilized a balanced pitching attack with its top three pitchers all averaging around 44 innings of work this season.
Quigley said the team is looking to repeat upon last weekend's success and continue Lehigh's winning ways in rivalry games.
"It's important to win this weekend so we can honor the tradition and importance our school [places on] the rivalry, on top of gaining important Patriot League wins," Quigley said.
Lehigh is batting .292 as a team this season and has outscored its opponents 92-57.
Lafayette is 2-13 overall and 1-2 in the Patriot League after losing two of three against Holy Cross in its Patriot League opener last weekend. As a team the Leopards are only hitting .197 on the season and have been outscored by their opponents 124-35.
Despite the Leopards offensive struggles, Victoria Vergona and Kristen Berger have been hitting well so far this season. Vergona is batting .306 with 11 hits including two doubles and Berger is batting .256 and leads the Leopards with 12 hits and nine RBIs. Melissa Robinson has earned both wins on the pitchers circle for the Leopards and has a 4.78 ERA with 13 strikeouts.
Lehigh leads Lafayette 83-23 in all rivalry games and have won 21 of the last 23 meetings. The Mountain Hawks bested the Leopards 3-1 in last season's series after dropping a close first game 2-1.
"Our big goal is to win the Patriot League Championship and compete at the [highest] level our ability and preparation allows us to play," Decker said.
Live audio for every game of this weekend's series will be broadcast online at Lehighsports.com
Following the series, the Mountain Hawks will travel to Lawrenceville, N.J. next Wednesday for a midweek doubleheader against Rider.
Story by Connor Tait '14
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