Lehigh takes game one from Marist but can't complete doubleheader sweep

Tuesday, April 8

3:00 PM

Lehigh University

18-12

Marist

9-17

Marist

Lehigh

Lehigh takes game one from Marist but can't complete doubleheader sweep

4/8/2014 9:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Three and a half hours into the Lehigh softball team's non-league doubleheader with Marist Tuesday at Kaufman Field, it looked like the Mountain Hawks were on their way to snapping a two-game losing streak with a doubleheader sweep.

The Mountain Hawks fell behind 3-0 early in game one but scored 16 unanswered runs across the two games, winning the opener 6-3 and leading the nightcap 10-0 after three innings. The visiting Red Foxes had other ideas as Marist scored 11 runs in the final four innings to stun the Mountain Hawks 11-10 and earn the doubleheader split.

Junior shortstop Emma Capetz went 3-for-3 in game one, while sophomore Jessica Calvini drove in three runs in the nightcap, but Janna Roark's one-out, two-run double tied game two in the seventh and Rebecca Freeman's two out single brought home the go-ahead run.

With the split, Lehigh is now 18-13 overall while Marist, the defending MAAC tournament champions, are now 10-17.

Marist took the lead in the second with consecutive singles from Korak and Aly Klemmer followed by a three-run home run to right center by Nicole Cheek off of junior Emily Bausher.

Lehigh answered back with four runs in the bottom of the frame as Calvini reached on an error and then moved to third on a double off the top of the fence by junior Cassie Waggy. A Bausher sacrifice fly put the Mountain Hawks on the board and a single through the left side by Capetz scored Waggy to bring Lehigh within 3-2. Two batters later, Lehigh pulled even on a RBI ground out by sophomore MacKenzie Velasquez while classmate Alexis Watanabe gave Lehigh the lead with an RBI infield single on a hot smash to second base.

Two leadoff triples allowed Lehigh to add insurance runs in the third and sixth innings. Freshman Vicky Lattanzio led off the third with a triple to right center and scored on a single by Waggy. In the sixth it was Capetz tripling for her third hit and scoring on a ground out by senior Jess Long.

Bausher went the first four innings in the circle to earn her fifth victory of the season. She allowed three runs on five hits while striking out six and walking one. Freshman Christine Campbell came on to earn her first career save with three innings of scoreless, two-hit relief.

Melanie White went the distance for Marist and allowed four earned runs on nine hits, while striking out three and walking three.

Lehigh capitalized on several Marist defensive miscues to build a 10-0 lead after three innings in game two. Velasquez led off the bottom of the first by reaching on an error and then moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. RBI doubles from sophomore Morgan Decker and Calvini and a single by Waggy put the Mountain Hawks up 3-0 after one.

In the second, Lehigh loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a fielder's choice. Decker was hit by a pitch to force in a run. A sac fly from Lattanzio and a run scoring double by Calvini extended Lehigh's lead to 6-0 after two innings of play.

The Mountain Hawks added four more runs in the third capitalizing on two Red Fox errors and RBI singles by Lattanzio and Calvini.

With Lehigh six defensive outs away from a run rule victory, Marist began its comeback with five runs in the fourth, highlighted by a RBI double by Freeman and a two-run home run Kyrstin Van Natta.

Campbell started game two in the circle and pitched the first four innings before giving way to senior Kelsey Lee in the fifth. Van Natta drove in Marist's sixth run on a fifth-inning RBI single while Cheek's second home run of the game, two-run shot, brought the visitors within 10-8 in the sixth. Campbell re-entered the game with a runner on second and one out and prevented any further damage in the sixth.

Marist's seventh-inning rally began with a one-out single by Van Natta, a wild pitch and a walk, before Roark doubled to left center to bring home the tying runs. After a ground out and a walk, Freeman's third hit of the game, a single through the left side, brought home Roark with the go-ahead run.

Paige Lewis completed four scoreless innings of relief by retiring the Mountain Hawks in order in the seventh. She allowed just one hit and walked four while striking out two to earn the victory.

Campbell took the loss for Lehigh allowing eight runs on 13 hits in 5.2 innings of work. She struck out seven and walked four as she falls to 7-5.

Marist overcame five errors by out-hitting the Mountain Hawks 17-9.

The Mountain Hawks will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they host Fordham in a single game at 3:30 p.m. from Kaufman Field. Streaming audio of the contest will be available at Lehighsports.com.