Saturday, April 27
Worcester, Mass.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
Holy Cross
Mountain Hawks return to league play with key series at Holy Cross
4/25/2019 5:29:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After going 4-2 over a stretch of six consecutive non-league games, the Lehigh softball team returns to Patriot League play with a key three-game weekend series at Holy Cross. The Mountain Hawks and Crusaders will play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday with start times on both days set for noon.
Lehigh was off from Patriot League play last weekend and has swept a doubleheader at Princeton, split a home twin bill with Stony Brook and split a doubleheader at Seton Hall since dropping two of three league games to Army West Point April 13-14.
With two more league series remaining, the Mountain Hawks are tied with Colgate for fourth place in the Patriot League standings at 5-7. Lehigh visits Colgate next weekend to close out the regular season. The top four teams qualify for the Patriot League Tournament, which Lehigh has never missed.
On Wednesday, Lehigh (19-25) split a doubleheader at Seton Hall with head coach Fran Troyan picking up career win No. 800 as senior Emily Sorem pitched a complete-game three hitter as Lehigh took the nightcap 6-0. The Mountain Hawks let an early 7-1 lead get away in a 9-7 loss in game one.
Freshman Jaelynn Chesson led Lehigh at the plate, with four hits in the doubleheader, including a 3-for-4 showing in game two with a double, a run scored and two RBIs. Chesson continues to lead Lehigh in batting at .380 and leads the Mountain Hawks in home runs (four) and RBIs (23). She is tied for the team lead with classmate Carley Barjaktarovich with 17 runs scored, and is tied with junior Mary-Hannah Smith for the team lead with 49 hits and 11 doubles.
Junior Reva Alderman hit a three-run home run in game one at Seton Hall, while junior Emily Preble was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice, double and run scored in game two.
Both of Sorem's wins this season have been via shutout. Junior Parker Boyd has been Lehigh's top pitcher but will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing at Seton Hall. Freshman Gabriella Nori pitched well in two outings in Lehigh's last Patriot League series against Army.
Holy Cross enters the weekend at 10-31 overall and 2-10 in the league. The Crusaders split a home-and-home series with Boston College, winning 6-0 on the road on Tuesday and falling 3-1 at home on Wednesday. In league play, Holy Cross dropped two of three at home to Colgate last weekend. Its other league win came against Army West Point.
Freshman Kelly Nelson has been a revelation for the Crusaders. She is 6-16 with a 2.68 ERA but has struck out 175 in 154.1 innings. Nelson has games of 27 and 19 strikeouts and owns a no-hitter against Army. Alexandra Held will also see time in the circle for Holy Cross.
Offensively, Taylor Wahler leads the Crusaders with a .331 average and 45 hits. Erin Bengston is hitting .299 with two home runs and a team-leading 20 RBIs.
Lehigh holds an 87-20 lead in the all-time series against Holy Cross. Last year Lehigh won two of three games at Leadership Park, both by 3-2 scores. The Crusaders took the series finale 9-5 in eight innings.
Following the Holy Cross series Lehigh will play a single game at Villanova on May 1 at 3 p.m. before closing out the regular season with three games at Colgate May 4-5.
Like Lehigh Softball on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Lehigh was off from Patriot League play last weekend and has swept a doubleheader at Princeton, split a home twin bill with Stony Brook and split a doubleheader at Seton Hall since dropping two of three league games to Army West Point April 13-14.
With two more league series remaining, the Mountain Hawks are tied with Colgate for fourth place in the Patriot League standings at 5-7. Lehigh visits Colgate next weekend to close out the regular season. The top four teams qualify for the Patriot League Tournament, which Lehigh has never missed.
On Wednesday, Lehigh (19-25) split a doubleheader at Seton Hall with head coach Fran Troyan picking up career win No. 800 as senior Emily Sorem pitched a complete-game three hitter as Lehigh took the nightcap 6-0. The Mountain Hawks let an early 7-1 lead get away in a 9-7 loss in game one.
Freshman Jaelynn Chesson led Lehigh at the plate, with four hits in the doubleheader, including a 3-for-4 showing in game two with a double, a run scored and two RBIs. Chesson continues to lead Lehigh in batting at .380 and leads the Mountain Hawks in home runs (four) and RBIs (23). She is tied for the team lead with classmate Carley Barjaktarovich with 17 runs scored, and is tied with junior Mary-Hannah Smith for the team lead with 49 hits and 11 doubles.
Junior Reva Alderman hit a three-run home run in game one at Seton Hall, while junior Emily Preble was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice, double and run scored in game two.
Both of Sorem's wins this season have been via shutout. Junior Parker Boyd has been Lehigh's top pitcher but will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing at Seton Hall. Freshman Gabriella Nori pitched well in two outings in Lehigh's last Patriot League series against Army.
Holy Cross enters the weekend at 10-31 overall and 2-10 in the league. The Crusaders split a home-and-home series with Boston College, winning 6-0 on the road on Tuesday and falling 3-1 at home on Wednesday. In league play, Holy Cross dropped two of three at home to Colgate last weekend. Its other league win came against Army West Point.
Freshman Kelly Nelson has been a revelation for the Crusaders. She is 6-16 with a 2.68 ERA but has struck out 175 in 154.1 innings. Nelson has games of 27 and 19 strikeouts and owns a no-hitter against Army. Alexandra Held will also see time in the circle for Holy Cross.
Offensively, Taylor Wahler leads the Crusaders with a .331 average and 45 hits. Erin Bengston is hitting .299 with two home runs and a team-leading 20 RBIs.
Lehigh holds an 87-20 lead in the all-time series against Holy Cross. Last year Lehigh won two of three games at Leadership Park, both by 3-2 scores. The Crusaders took the series finale 9-5 in eight innings.
Following the Holy Cross series Lehigh will play a single game at Villanova on May 1 at 3 p.m. before closing out the regular season with three games at Colgate May 4-5.
Like Lehigh Softball on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
IF/OF
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IF
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P/UT
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IF
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