Saturday, May 16
Norman, Okla.
5 PM
Lehigh University
3
vs
0
Central Arkansas
Lehigh downs UCA 3-0 in Norman Regional; rematch with Texas A&M suspended
5/17/2015 12:10:00 AM | Softball
NORMAN, Okla. – The Lehigh softball team kept its season alive with a 3-0 victory over Central Arkansas in an elimination game Saturday at the OU Softball Complex. The victory earned the Mountain Hawks a rematch with Texas A&M. The Aggies raced to a 4-0 lead after three innings before the game was suspended due to severe weather that moved through the area.
The elimination game with the Aggies will be resumed Saturday at noon CT with junior Jessica Calvini leading off the top of the fourth inning with no outs.
The win over Central Arkansas clinched Lehigh's fifth 40-win season as the Mountain Hawks improved to 40-8 on the season.
Sophomore Christine Campbell and sophomore Emily Bausher combined on Lehigh's 17th shutout of the season in the win over Central Arkansas. Campbell went the first 6.2 innings, allowing four hits while walking two and striking out two. She gave way to Bausher with runners on the corners and two out and the senior retired Sam Forrest on a comebacker to end the game. Campbell improves to 17-2 on the season while Bausher recorded her second save.
"Defensively we've been doing great all year," Campbell said. "Today, there was great defense behind me. Outfield, infield, everywhere, and behind the plate (Carissa) Zito has done a great job all year."
Lehigh took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as freshman Nicole Yozzo drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a passed ball, took third on a ground out, and scored on a two-out single through the right side by sophomore Vicky Lattanzio.
Calvini doubled Lehigh's lead with a one out triple to center in the fourth. An error by Bear shortstop Hayley Parker on the relay throw allowed Calvin to score Lehigh's second run.
The Mountain Hawks added a third run in the sixth as junior Alexis Watanabe led off with a bunt single and then scored on a double to left center by junior Morgan Decker.
Lehigh finished with five hits off Kylee Studioso who took the loss allowing three runs (one earned) in six innings. Studioso is now 26-14 for Central Arkansas as the Bears' season ends at 35-21.
"I know we only had five hits in the game, but we played a great game offensively," Lehigh head coach Fran Troyan said. "I feel like we had six or seven line drives that were hit right at people. I feel like we totally controlled the game. Hat's off to Christine Campbell. She did a tremendous job in the circle and kept them off balance.
"We knew they probably had a scouting report ready for Emily Bausher, but we knew that just like she has done all year, Christine has the ability to be very, very effective and at times she was dominant today."
Texas A&M dropped to the loser's bracket after host Oklahoma rallied for a 7-5 victory in Saturday's first game.
In the rematch with Texas A&M the first two Mountain hawks reached base in the top of the first but Lehigh was unable to bring Yozzo or Watanabe home. Erica Russell gave the Aggies a 1-0 lead with a solo home run off Bausher with two outs in the bottom of the second. Lehigh stranded two runners again in the third, but Texas A&M extended its lead with three runs in the third on a pair of home runs. Tori Vidales led off the frame with a solo home run to left center. After an error prolonged the inning, Breanna Dozier hit a two-run shot to straightaway center to give the Aggies a 4-0 lead.
With severe weather in the area, the game was suspended at the end of the third inning.
"Texas A&M can really swing the bats," Troyan said. "Early in the game Emily had to come over the plate a little bit and they made a pretty good connection on a few pitches. We had a couple of opportunities. Just like Oklahoma came back on Texas A&M, I feel like if we can continue to swing the bats the way we've been swinging them, we've got a punchers chance to come back."
Sunday's resumption of the suspended game will begin at noon CT from the OU Softball Complex. The winner will move on to the regional final against Oklahoma beginning at 2:30 p.m., needing two wins to eliminate the Sooners. The Lehigh-Texas A&M game can be seen on ESPN3 while audio coverage will be available for free at Lehighsports.com.
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