Thursday, May 12
12PM
Lehigh University
36-14
1
vs
0
Bucknell
27-22
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Bucknell
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
Lehigh
0
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0
0
0
1
X
1
5
1
Lehigh opens Patriot League Tournament with dramatic 1-0 win over Bucknell
5/12/2016 5:47:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Scoreless entering the bottom of the sixth inning, senior Morgan Decker drove in classmate Alexis Watanabe for the game's only run as the Lehigh softball team earned a 1-0 win over Bucknell in the opening game of the Patriot League Tournament at Leadership Park Thursday. Junior Christine Campbell tossed her fifth shutout of the season while Watanabe tallied two of Lehigh's five hits in the game.
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"Two seniors did a great job there in that sixth inning," said head coach Fran Troyan. "Ninja (Watanabe) got the hit, stole a base and Morgan knocked her in. If we've seen that one time, we've seen it 100 times in their careers, those two coming up clutch and they certainly did. Christine pitched a great game and so did their pitcher. It was an extremely well-played game by two strong teams."
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Along with Watanabe's 2-for-3 effort, Decker and senior Jessica Calvini each finished 1-for-2 with a walk. Junior Vicky Lattanzio was 1-for-3.
"Alexis did a great job at the plate, but let's not forget a couple of great plays she made in the field," said Troyan. "She is one of the best defensive players around, as evidence of being named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year."
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Despite a scoreless start, it wasn't for a lack of chances from both sides. Watanabe led off the bottom of the first with a hit. Eventually, Lehigh got runners on first and second with two outs, but couldn't plate a run. Bucknell immediately had a chance in the top of the second, but a sharply hit ball up the middle hit baserunner Lauren Hadley, so she was out and the Mountain Hawks got out of the jam.
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Calvini led off the bottom of the inning with a double, but was eventually gunned down at the plate to keep the game scoreless.
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Both pitchers settled into a groove over the ensuing innings until the Bison threated in the fifth. Bucknell put runners on second and third with two outs, but Campbell induced a groundout to end the jam.
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Watanabe led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and stole second. One out later, Decker came up with a big single to center field, plating Watanabe to give Lehigh a 1-0 lead. The Mountain Hawks went on to put runners on second and third, but Bucknell got out of the jam without further damage.
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The Bison led off the seventh inning with a single, but Campbell retired the next three batters to hold onto the 1-0 victory. Campbell's final line featured seven innings of six-hit ball with two walks and no strikeouts. She improved to 20-8 on the season with the victory.
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"Christine made Bucknell batters put the ball in play and we did a great job of fielding the ball," said Troyan.
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Amanda Fazio took the loss for Bucknell, allowing a run on five hits in six innings. Like Campbell, she walked to batters and did not strike anyone out.
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The Mountain Hawks will now play Boston University in the first game on Friday, which has been moved up to a 9:05 a.m. first pitch due to impending rain in the forecast.
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"Every game is going to be a tight game and we need to come ready to play," said Troyan.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Campbell, Christine (20-8)
L: Fazio, Amanda (15-11)
Batting:
SH: Fazio, Amanda 1 ; Midyette, Mariah 1 ; Tyburk, Jacklyn 1 ; Rokos, Ryanne 1
Batting:
2B: Calvini, Jessica 1
RBI: Decker, Morgan 1
SH: Velasquez, MacKenzie 1 ; Wright, Carolyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Watanabe, Alexis 1
SB: Watanabe, Alexis 1 ; Gerhardt, Brianna 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF/OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballUT
/ SoftballIF
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