Lehigh University Athletics
Wednesday, April 8
Bethlehem, Pa.
3 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Hofstra
Mountain Hawks to host tough Hofstra squad in Wednesday doubleheader
4/7/2015 12:37:00 PM | Softball
Audio | Live stats
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team will face one of its toughest regular season tests Wednesday as Hofstra visits Kaufman Field for a non-league doubleheader. Two of the top programs in the northeast will battle as the Mountain Hawks put their school and league record 15 game winning streak on the line against a Hofstra program that has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in ten of the last 12 seasons.
On Monday, the NCAA announced its latest RPI rankings with the Pride coming in at No. 34, while the Mountain Hawks are at No. 65.
Lehigh improved to 24-3 overall and 8-0 in the Patriot League with a three game sweep of Bucknell over the weekend to cap a 5-0 week against league opponents. The Mountain Hawks outscored their opponents 49-10 in five wins over Boston University and Bucknell in their first home games of the season. Wednesday's doubleheader will cap a seven game homestand.
Individually, Lehigh claimed Patriot League Player and Pitcher of the week honors on Monday. Junior Alexis Watanabe continued her torrid pace since returning to the lineup. She was 10-for-15 in five games last week with seven runs scored and seven RBI on the way to earning Player of the Week honors. Watanabe is batting .636 (14-for-22) in her last eight games, all Patriot League contests, with ten runs scored and ten RBI, and has her overall season average up to .517.
Senior Emily Bausher collected her third consecutive Pitcher of the Week award and her fifth award this season after allowing just four earned runs in 18 innings with 21 strikeouts in a 3-0 week for her. Bausher struck out a season-high 11 batters in Saturday's series-opening win over Bucknell.
Juniors Jessica Calvini and MacKenzie Velasquez also contributed eight RBI apiece in five games last week. Calvini now leads the team with 22 RBI on the season.
Like many schools in this region, Hofstra has had issues getting games in this season due to weather. The Pride, like Lehigh, have played 27 games and are 17-9-1. Hofstra is 6-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association after dropping two home games to nationally-ranked conference rival James Madison on Saturday. The Pride do own a victory over then-No. 20 Notre Dame earlier this season.
Offensively, Hofstra is led by Chloe Fitzgerald, who enters Wednesday's games with a .389 average. Caryn Bailey is right behind at .379 and leads the Pride with five home runs and 23 RBI.
Hofstra's pitching staff features Morgan Lashley, the former Army hurler, who is 10-1 with a 1.72 ERA in her second season with the Pride; and Taylor Pirone, who is 7-8 with a 2.60 ERA and has issued just six walks in 83.1 innings of work.
The Pride leads the series with Lehigh 18-4 and have won four straight games. Hofstra swept a doubleheader from the Mountain Hawks on Long Island, winning 11-3 in six innings, and 8-1.
Wednesday's doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. from Kaufman Field. Audio coverage for both games will be available for free at Lehighsports.com.
Following Wednesday's games Lehigh will embark on a five game road trip beginning with three Patriot League games at Holy Cross this weekend.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team will face one of its toughest regular season tests Wednesday as Hofstra visits Kaufman Field for a non-league doubleheader. Two of the top programs in the northeast will battle as the Mountain Hawks put their school and league record 15 game winning streak on the line against a Hofstra program that has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in ten of the last 12 seasons.
On Monday, the NCAA announced its latest RPI rankings with the Pride coming in at No. 34, while the Mountain Hawks are at No. 65.
Lehigh improved to 24-3 overall and 8-0 in the Patriot League with a three game sweep of Bucknell over the weekend to cap a 5-0 week against league opponents. The Mountain Hawks outscored their opponents 49-10 in five wins over Boston University and Bucknell in their first home games of the season. Wednesday's doubleheader will cap a seven game homestand.
Individually, Lehigh claimed Patriot League Player and Pitcher of the week honors on Monday. Junior Alexis Watanabe continued her torrid pace since returning to the lineup. She was 10-for-15 in five games last week with seven runs scored and seven RBI on the way to earning Player of the Week honors. Watanabe is batting .636 (14-for-22) in her last eight games, all Patriot League contests, with ten runs scored and ten RBI, and has her overall season average up to .517.
Senior Emily Bausher collected her third consecutive Pitcher of the Week award and her fifth award this season after allowing just four earned runs in 18 innings with 21 strikeouts in a 3-0 week for her. Bausher struck out a season-high 11 batters in Saturday's series-opening win over Bucknell.
Juniors Jessica Calvini and MacKenzie Velasquez also contributed eight RBI apiece in five games last week. Calvini now leads the team with 22 RBI on the season.
Like many schools in this region, Hofstra has had issues getting games in this season due to weather. The Pride, like Lehigh, have played 27 games and are 17-9-1. Hofstra is 6-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association after dropping two home games to nationally-ranked conference rival James Madison on Saturday. The Pride do own a victory over then-No. 20 Notre Dame earlier this season.
Offensively, Hofstra is led by Chloe Fitzgerald, who enters Wednesday's games with a .389 average. Caryn Bailey is right behind at .379 and leads the Pride with five home runs and 23 RBI.
Hofstra's pitching staff features Morgan Lashley, the former Army hurler, who is 10-1 with a 1.72 ERA in her second season with the Pride; and Taylor Pirone, who is 7-8 with a 2.60 ERA and has issued just six walks in 83.1 innings of work.
The Pride leads the series with Lehigh 18-4 and have won four straight games. Hofstra swept a doubleheader from the Mountain Hawks on Long Island, winning 11-3 in six innings, and 8-1.
Wednesday's doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. from Kaufman Field. Audio coverage for both games will be available for free at Lehighsports.com.
Following Wednesday's games Lehigh will embark on a five game road trip beginning with three Patriot League games at Holy Cross this weekend.
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