Friday, February 23
Orlando, Fla.
10 AM
Lehigh University
vs
Louisville
Lehigh to face tough schedule at season-opening Citrus Classic
2/22/2018 1:08:00 PM | Softball
Season Preview | Watch on FloSoftball (Subscription Required)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following more than a month of preseason preparations the Lehigh softball team is eager and excited to open its 2018 campaign. The Mountain Hawks will finally get to do so this weekend with five games, spread over three days at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic, beginning Friday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.
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A challenging opening weekend awaits the Mountain Hawks, who will face teams that have been playing games for the last two weekends. Included in the opening weekend for the Brown and White are three power conference foes, including a pair of nationally-ranked squads.
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Lehigh, the Patriot League preseason favorite, returns 15 players from last year's 36-20 Patriot League championship team, including five returning All-Patriot League selections. Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year Emily Sorem is expected to anchor the pitching staff along with sophomore Parker Boyd and freshman Lainey Stephenson.
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Offensively, Lehigh returns all-league and all-region catcher Carolyn Wright, who tied for the league lead with 42 RBIs last year, plus a speedy outfield that includes senior Nicole Yozzo and junior Ashley Rabago, both all-league performers a season ago, and sophomore Hannah Edwards.
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On the infield, the Mountain Hawks return a second-team All-Patriot League performer in sophomore Mary-Hannah Smith and a two-year starter at shortstop in senior Rachel Timberman. Junior Brianna Gerhardt returns at third base along with sophomore Reva Alderman, who's bat will likely earn her time somewhere in the lineup, after finishing last season with 30 RBIs.
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The Mountain Hawks will open the season and the Citrus Classic with ACC member Louisville, Friday at 10 a.m. The Cardinals come in at 6-3 overall and are coming off a 2-2 showing at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge last weekend, where they swept a doubleheader from Northwestern then dropped a pair of games against Ohio State. Louisville returns three All-ACC performers from a season ago in outfielder Nicole Pufahl, infielder Caitlin Ferguson and pitcher/outfielder Megan Hensley.
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Lehigh will also face Savannah State Friday at 12:30 p.m. Following a 4-36 campaign in 2017, the Tigers have fared better early in this season going 3-1 last weekend, with a 2-1 showing against Norfolk State and a win over South Carolina State. Third baseman Cortni Jones was a preseason All-MEAC second team honoree.
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On Saturday, Lehigh will face a stiff challenge from No. 22 Minnesota. The Golden Gophers were ranked No. 1 for a period of time last season but were not seeded at Regionals and were eliminated in the regional round. Minnesota opened its season with a 5-0 showing at the UNLV SportCo Kickoff Classic but went 0-4 last weekend at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Tallahassee, Fla., losing two games apiece to Florida State and Notre Dame. Three Golden Gophers: third baseman Danielle Parlich, outfielder Maddie Houlihan and catcher Kendyl Landaman were named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List.
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Lehigh will close out its opening weekend of games on Sunday against South Carolina (9 a.m.) and Miami (Ohio) (11:30 a.m.).
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South Carolina is tied for 24th in the NFCA Top 25. The Gamecocks are 10-1 overall and have won their last seven games, including a 4-0 showing at last weekend's Gamecock Invitational and a 5-0 win over North Carolina on Tuesday. South Carolina was a regional finalist last season, bowing out against Arizona. The Gamecocks return four of their top five hitters from a season ago in Mackenzie Boesel, Tiara Duffy, Krystan White and Alyssa VanDerveer.
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Miami (Ohio) went 1-4 in its opening weekend at a tournament hosted by Bradley. The Redhawks won their finale against Saint Louis and were off last weekend. Miami returns its top hitter from last year, Kat Lee, a first team All-MAC selection, plus its leader in home runs (Johniann Wall) and stolen bases (Megan Wurts). Shannon Hohman led the Redhawks in innings pitched and strikeouts a season ago and is one of two returning pitchers along with Jaime Scher.
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Lehigh has no softball history with any of the five teams it will meet this weekend.
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Streaming video for all five games will be available through FloSoftball (subscription required).
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Next weekend, Lehigh will visit Durham, N.C. to participate in the Duke Inaugural Tournament, March 2-4. The Mountain Hawks will face Kent State, North Dakota State and Yale along with host Duke, which is in its first season of Division I softball.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following more than a month of preseason preparations the Lehigh softball team is eager and excited to open its 2018 campaign. The Mountain Hawks will finally get to do so this weekend with five games, spread over three days at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic, beginning Friday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.
Â
A challenging opening weekend awaits the Mountain Hawks, who will face teams that have been playing games for the last two weekends. Included in the opening weekend for the Brown and White are three power conference foes, including a pair of nationally-ranked squads.
Â
Lehigh, the Patriot League preseason favorite, returns 15 players from last year's 36-20 Patriot League championship team, including five returning All-Patriot League selections. Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year Emily Sorem is expected to anchor the pitching staff along with sophomore Parker Boyd and freshman Lainey Stephenson.
Â
Offensively, Lehigh returns all-league and all-region catcher Carolyn Wright, who tied for the league lead with 42 RBIs last year, plus a speedy outfield that includes senior Nicole Yozzo and junior Ashley Rabago, both all-league performers a season ago, and sophomore Hannah Edwards.
Â
On the infield, the Mountain Hawks return a second-team All-Patriot League performer in sophomore Mary-Hannah Smith and a two-year starter at shortstop in senior Rachel Timberman. Junior Brianna Gerhardt returns at third base along with sophomore Reva Alderman, who's bat will likely earn her time somewhere in the lineup, after finishing last season with 30 RBIs.
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The Mountain Hawks will open the season and the Citrus Classic with ACC member Louisville, Friday at 10 a.m. The Cardinals come in at 6-3 overall and are coming off a 2-2 showing at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge last weekend, where they swept a doubleheader from Northwestern then dropped a pair of games against Ohio State. Louisville returns three All-ACC performers from a season ago in outfielder Nicole Pufahl, infielder Caitlin Ferguson and pitcher/outfielder Megan Hensley.
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Lehigh will also face Savannah State Friday at 12:30 p.m. Following a 4-36 campaign in 2017, the Tigers have fared better early in this season going 3-1 last weekend, with a 2-1 showing against Norfolk State and a win over South Carolina State. Third baseman Cortni Jones was a preseason All-MEAC second team honoree.
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On Saturday, Lehigh will face a stiff challenge from No. 22 Minnesota. The Golden Gophers were ranked No. 1 for a period of time last season but were not seeded at Regionals and were eliminated in the regional round. Minnesota opened its season with a 5-0 showing at the UNLV SportCo Kickoff Classic but went 0-4 last weekend at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Tallahassee, Fla., losing two games apiece to Florida State and Notre Dame. Three Golden Gophers: third baseman Danielle Parlich, outfielder Maddie Houlihan and catcher Kendyl Landaman were named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List.
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Lehigh will close out its opening weekend of games on Sunday against South Carolina (9 a.m.) and Miami (Ohio) (11:30 a.m.).
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South Carolina is tied for 24th in the NFCA Top 25. The Gamecocks are 10-1 overall and have won their last seven games, including a 4-0 showing at last weekend's Gamecock Invitational and a 5-0 win over North Carolina on Tuesday. South Carolina was a regional finalist last season, bowing out against Arizona. The Gamecocks return four of their top five hitters from a season ago in Mackenzie Boesel, Tiara Duffy, Krystan White and Alyssa VanDerveer.
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Miami (Ohio) went 1-4 in its opening weekend at a tournament hosted by Bradley. The Redhawks won their finale against Saint Louis and were off last weekend. Miami returns its top hitter from last year, Kat Lee, a first team All-MAC selection, plus its leader in home runs (Johniann Wall) and stolen bases (Megan Wurts). Shannon Hohman led the Redhawks in innings pitched and strikeouts a season ago and is one of two returning pitchers along with Jaime Scher.
Â
Lehigh has no softball history with any of the five teams it will meet this weekend.
Â
Streaming video for all five games will be available through FloSoftball (subscription required).
Â
Next weekend, Lehigh will visit Durham, N.C. to participate in the Duke Inaugural Tournament, March 2-4. The Mountain Hawks will face Kent State, North Dakota State and Yale along with host Duke, which is in its first season of Division I softball.
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