Saturday, March 26
12PM
Lehigh University
vs
Lafayette
Lehigh to open home slate, league play with rivalry series versus Lafayette
3/25/2016 10:21:00 AM | Softball
Video | Live Stats | The Rivalry: Lehigh vs. Lafayette
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team makes its home debut this weekend as the Mountain Hawks welcome rival Lafayette to Leadership Park for a three game series that doubles as the Patriot League opener for both teams.
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The defending Patriot League champion Mountain Hawks come in at 17-6 overall. Lehigh split a Wednesday non-league doubleheader at Saint Joseph's and now sets its sights on the Rivalry and the first full season at Leadership Park. Last year the Mountain Hawks played seven games on their new home field, which opened in late April, going 6-1 including three wins in the Patriot League Tournament.
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Lehigh's offense has led the way through the pre-league schedule as the Mountain Hawks lead the Patriot League with a .310 batting average, nine home runs and 134 runs scored through 23 games. Senior Morgan Decker has been the catalyst, with a .485 batting average that ranks 15th nationally, to go along with a team-best 23 RBIs. Decker also has four home runs and 12 doubles and leads the nation in doubles per game.
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Sophomore Katie Schultz is the only other Mountain Hawk hitting over .400 as she comes in at .417 and ranks third on Lehigh with 13 RBIs. Juniors Vicky Lattanzio and Ashley Cole have also made offensive contributions. Lattanzio is right behind Decker with 22 RBIs to go along with a .358 average, while Cole has found her power stroke in 2016, as three of her eight hits have been home runs, including a pinch-hit three-run shot against Saint Joseph's. The Mountain Hawks dropped game one to the Hawks 9-6 on Wednesday before bouncing back for a 7-3 win in the nightcap.
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Junior Christine Campbell and freshman Emily Sorem are expected to see the bulk of the time in the pitcher's circle. Campbell earned the win versus Saint Joseph's and owns a 9-3 record with a 3.81 ERA. Sorem is looking to bounce back from a loss to the Hawks but she leads Lehigh in ERA (2.93), shutouts (two) and strikeouts (51).
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Lehigh went 16-2 in the Patriot League regular season last year to win its fourth straight regular season title. The Mountain Hawks were picked first in the Patriot League preseason poll, announced last month.
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Lafayette enters league play at 6-13 overall but the Leopards have already eclipsed their 2015 win total (4-37). The Leopards have been busy this week as Lafayette is on spring break, as the Leopards played road doubleheaders Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lafayette split their twin bill with Howard on Tuesday and was swept by George Washington Wednesday and Saint Francis (Pa.) Thursday.
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Brooke Wensel and Samantha Sweigart lead the Lafayette offense with a .298 batting average, with Wensel topping the Leopards with 10 RBIs.
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Four pitchers have thrown at least 15 innings for Lafayette. Stephanie Thomas has thrown the most innings, going 1-7 with a 4.33 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 42 innings of work. Kristyn Marinelli has the top ERA for Lafayette at 3.67 to go along with a 2-3 record.
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Lehigh leads the all-time series versus Lafayette 89-23 and has won the last eight meetings.
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The series begins with a doubleheader beginning Saturday at noon from Leadership Park. Lehigh and Lafayette will close out the series with a single game Sunday at noon. Video for all three games will be available on the Patriot League Network.
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Following the Rivalry series, Lehigh will visit Penn for a Wednesday doubleheader before heading to Boston next weekend for three games against Boston University.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team makes its home debut this weekend as the Mountain Hawks welcome rival Lafayette to Leadership Park for a three game series that doubles as the Patriot League opener for both teams.
Â
The defending Patriot League champion Mountain Hawks come in at 17-6 overall. Lehigh split a Wednesday non-league doubleheader at Saint Joseph's and now sets its sights on the Rivalry and the first full season at Leadership Park. Last year the Mountain Hawks played seven games on their new home field, which opened in late April, going 6-1 including three wins in the Patriot League Tournament.
Â
Lehigh's offense has led the way through the pre-league schedule as the Mountain Hawks lead the Patriot League with a .310 batting average, nine home runs and 134 runs scored through 23 games. Senior Morgan Decker has been the catalyst, with a .485 batting average that ranks 15th nationally, to go along with a team-best 23 RBIs. Decker also has four home runs and 12 doubles and leads the nation in doubles per game.
Â
Sophomore Katie Schultz is the only other Mountain Hawk hitting over .400 as she comes in at .417 and ranks third on Lehigh with 13 RBIs. Juniors Vicky Lattanzio and Ashley Cole have also made offensive contributions. Lattanzio is right behind Decker with 22 RBIs to go along with a .358 average, while Cole has found her power stroke in 2016, as three of her eight hits have been home runs, including a pinch-hit three-run shot against Saint Joseph's. The Mountain Hawks dropped game one to the Hawks 9-6 on Wednesday before bouncing back for a 7-3 win in the nightcap.
Â
Junior Christine Campbell and freshman Emily Sorem are expected to see the bulk of the time in the pitcher's circle. Campbell earned the win versus Saint Joseph's and owns a 9-3 record with a 3.81 ERA. Sorem is looking to bounce back from a loss to the Hawks but she leads Lehigh in ERA (2.93), shutouts (two) and strikeouts (51).
Â
Lehigh went 16-2 in the Patriot League regular season last year to win its fourth straight regular season title. The Mountain Hawks were picked first in the Patriot League preseason poll, announced last month.
Â
Lafayette enters league play at 6-13 overall but the Leopards have already eclipsed their 2015 win total (4-37). The Leopards have been busy this week as Lafayette is on spring break, as the Leopards played road doubleheaders Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lafayette split their twin bill with Howard on Tuesday and was swept by George Washington Wednesday and Saint Francis (Pa.) Thursday.
Â
Brooke Wensel and Samantha Sweigart lead the Lafayette offense with a .298 batting average, with Wensel topping the Leopards with 10 RBIs.
Â
Four pitchers have thrown at least 15 innings for Lafayette. Stephanie Thomas has thrown the most innings, going 1-7 with a 4.33 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 42 innings of work. Kristyn Marinelli has the top ERA for Lafayette at 3.67 to go along with a 2-3 record.
Â
Lehigh leads the all-time series versus Lafayette 89-23 and has won the last eight meetings.
Â
The series begins with a doubleheader beginning Saturday at noon from Leadership Park. Lehigh and Lafayette will close out the series with a single game Sunday at noon. Video for all three games will be available on the Patriot League Network.
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Following the Rivalry series, Lehigh will visit Penn for a Wednesday doubleheader before heading to Boston next weekend for three games against Boston University.
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