Thursday, May 9
Boston, Mass.
1:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Bucknell
Lehigh to open Patriot League Tournament Thursday against Bucknell in Boston
5/8/2019 3:56:00 PM | Softball
UPDATE: Anticipated inclement weather has forces several schedule changes for the tournament. Thursday's Lehigh-Bucknell game will now start at 1 p.m. The revised tournament schedule is listed at the bottom of this story.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League Tournament returns to Boston for the second straight year, with Lehigh returning as the No. 3 seed for the second consecutive season. The four-team double elimination tournament kicks off Thursday at BU Softball Field.
Lehigh has won a league-best 14 tournament crowns, with the last one coming in 2017. Last year, Lehigh reached the championship round before falling to Boston University. The Mountain Hawks have been battle-tested in 2019 and enter the postseason having won 14 of their last 19 games, including league series sweeps at Holy Cross and Colgate to clinch a tournament berth. Junior second baseman Mary-Hannah Smith and freshman outfielder Jaelynn Chesson garnered first team All-Patriot League honors. Lehigh will open the double-elimination tournament against No. 2 seed Bucknell for the second consecutive year. No. 4 seed Colgate will open the tournament against the hosts from Boston U.
Lehigh placed two student-athletes on the All-Patriot League teams, announced earlier this week. Junior second baseman Mary-Hannah Smith was honored for the third straight season and made the first team for the first time. She was joined by freshman outfielder Jaelynn Chesson. Junior pitcher Parker Boyd made the Academic All-Patriot League team for the second consecutive year.
With their careers in the brown and white winding down, Lehigh's three seniors appear to be saving their best for the end. The Mountain Hawks won 14 of their last 19 regular season games. In 16 games since returning to the starting lineup after missing time with an injury, Ashley Rabago is hitting a team-best .455 with 16 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Jen Stoll is hitting .340 with eight runs scored over that same span. Pitcher Emily Sorem has appeared in six games during that span, going 4-0 with two shutouts and a 1.91 ERA, highlighted by a no-hitter at Holy Cross.
To be successful in postseason softball, you need strong pitching and for Lehigh in 2019, it appears postseason success will require a collaborative effort. Junior Parker Boyd was second team All-Patriot League last year and pitched all but one-third of an inning for Lehigh in last year's tournament. Boyd leads Lehigh in wins, ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched, but had the highest ERA among Lehigh's three main pitchers during the league season. She did throw a one-hitter as Lehigh salvaged its series finale with Boston University in early April. Freshman Gabriella Nori has been Lehigh's No. 2 option for most of the season and led the Mountain Hawks in ERA and strikeouts during league play. Senior Emily Sorem has re-emerged in recent weeks, with four victories in Lehigh's last eight games, including two shutouts and a nine-inning no-hitter at Holy Cross on April 27, the first no-hitter thrown by a Lehigh pitcher since Christine Campbell at Colgate in 2015.
Lehigh and Bucknell will meet in Thursday's second game, set for 2:30 p.m. The Bison became the first-ever Patriot League team to sweep a series of three or more games from Lehigh, doing so with three wins March 30-31 at Leadership Park. Raeanne Geffert no-hit Lehigh in the series opener and the Bison claimed a 14-3 win in game two, before taking the series finale 8-3. Chesson led Lehigh offensively against the Bison, going 3-for-7 with a home run, two RBIs and three walks.
Bucknell is making its second consecutive tournament appearance as the No. 2 seed. The Bison were 27-22 overall and at 14-3 in the league finished one game behind Boston University. Bucknell had six All-Patriot League honorees plus major award winners Alysse Volpe (Rookie of the Year) and Joey Lye (Coach of the Year). Volpe and shortstop Anna Gimmestad were first team honorees, while Geffert leads the second team selections. Volpe is hitting .412 on the season, while Gimmestad, Lauren Hadley and Taylor Wolfgang all have seven home runs and more than 30 RBIs. Geffert finished the regular season at 15-12 with a 2.08 ERA.
Lehigh leads the all-time series against Bucknell 93-47 and is 12-7 versus the Bison in the Patriot League Tournament. Last year Bucknell beat Lehigh 3-1 in the opening round of the tournament, but the Mountain Hawks eliminated the Bison the following day behind a three-hitter from Boyd.
Thursday's other first round game matches No. 1 Boston University and No. 4 Colgate. The Terriers won the other three Patriot League major awards announced Tuesday with Alex Heinen named Player and Defensive Player of the Year and Ali DuBois named Pitcher of the Year. BU is 34-18 overall and went 15-2 in the league. Colgate is 25-25 overall and 8-10 in the league after getting swept by Lehigh last weekend. Boston University's two losses are to Lehigh and Bucknell.
Boston University and Lehigh have alternated winning tournament titles since the Terriers joined the league in 2014. BU won titles in 2014, 2016 and 2018 while Lehigh prevailed in 2015 and 2017. Bucknell's most recent title came in 2010, while Colgate last won the Patriot League in 2007.
The Patriot League tournament gets underway Thursday with the Boston University-Colgate game at 10:30 a.m., with Lehigh and Bucknell to square off at approximately 1 p.m. The first elimination game of the tournament has been moved to Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Games four (the winner's bracket game) and five are slated for Friday, beginning at 10 a.m. The championship round featuring game six and, if necessary, game seven is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Streaming video of all Patriot League Tournament action will be available online for free via the Patriot League Network.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday May 9:
Game 1: No. 1 Boston U. vs. No. 4 Colgate, 10:30 a.m.
Game 2: No. 2. Bucknell vs. No. 3 Lehigh, 1 p.m.
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Friday May 10:
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 10 a.m.
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 12:30 p.m.
Saturday May 11:
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 1:30 p.m.*
* - if necessary
Like Lehigh Softball on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League Tournament returns to Boston for the second straight year, with Lehigh returning as the No. 3 seed for the second consecutive season. The four-team double elimination tournament kicks off Thursday at BU Softball Field.
Lehigh has won a league-best 14 tournament crowns, with the last one coming in 2017. Last year, Lehigh reached the championship round before falling to Boston University. The Mountain Hawks have been battle-tested in 2019 and enter the postseason having won 14 of their last 19 games, including league series sweeps at Holy Cross and Colgate to clinch a tournament berth. Junior second baseman Mary-Hannah Smith and freshman outfielder Jaelynn Chesson garnered first team All-Patriot League honors. Lehigh will open the double-elimination tournament against No. 2 seed Bucknell for the second consecutive year. No. 4 seed Colgate will open the tournament against the hosts from Boston U.
Lehigh placed two student-athletes on the All-Patriot League teams, announced earlier this week. Junior second baseman Mary-Hannah Smith was honored for the third straight season and made the first team for the first time. She was joined by freshman outfielder Jaelynn Chesson. Junior pitcher Parker Boyd made the Academic All-Patriot League team for the second consecutive year.
With their careers in the brown and white winding down, Lehigh's three seniors appear to be saving their best for the end. The Mountain Hawks won 14 of their last 19 regular season games. In 16 games since returning to the starting lineup after missing time with an injury, Ashley Rabago is hitting a team-best .455 with 16 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Jen Stoll is hitting .340 with eight runs scored over that same span. Pitcher Emily Sorem has appeared in six games during that span, going 4-0 with two shutouts and a 1.91 ERA, highlighted by a no-hitter at Holy Cross.
To be successful in postseason softball, you need strong pitching and for Lehigh in 2019, it appears postseason success will require a collaborative effort. Junior Parker Boyd was second team All-Patriot League last year and pitched all but one-third of an inning for Lehigh in last year's tournament. Boyd leads Lehigh in wins, ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched, but had the highest ERA among Lehigh's three main pitchers during the league season. She did throw a one-hitter as Lehigh salvaged its series finale with Boston University in early April. Freshman Gabriella Nori has been Lehigh's No. 2 option for most of the season and led the Mountain Hawks in ERA and strikeouts during league play. Senior Emily Sorem has re-emerged in recent weeks, with four victories in Lehigh's last eight games, including two shutouts and a nine-inning no-hitter at Holy Cross on April 27, the first no-hitter thrown by a Lehigh pitcher since Christine Campbell at Colgate in 2015.
Lehigh and Bucknell will meet in Thursday's second game, set for 2:30 p.m. The Bison became the first-ever Patriot League team to sweep a series of three or more games from Lehigh, doing so with three wins March 30-31 at Leadership Park. Raeanne Geffert no-hit Lehigh in the series opener and the Bison claimed a 14-3 win in game two, before taking the series finale 8-3. Chesson led Lehigh offensively against the Bison, going 3-for-7 with a home run, two RBIs and three walks.
Bucknell is making its second consecutive tournament appearance as the No. 2 seed. The Bison were 27-22 overall and at 14-3 in the league finished one game behind Boston University. Bucknell had six All-Patriot League honorees plus major award winners Alysse Volpe (Rookie of the Year) and Joey Lye (Coach of the Year). Volpe and shortstop Anna Gimmestad were first team honorees, while Geffert leads the second team selections. Volpe is hitting .412 on the season, while Gimmestad, Lauren Hadley and Taylor Wolfgang all have seven home runs and more than 30 RBIs. Geffert finished the regular season at 15-12 with a 2.08 ERA.
Lehigh leads the all-time series against Bucknell 93-47 and is 12-7 versus the Bison in the Patriot League Tournament. Last year Bucknell beat Lehigh 3-1 in the opening round of the tournament, but the Mountain Hawks eliminated the Bison the following day behind a three-hitter from Boyd.
Thursday's other first round game matches No. 1 Boston University and No. 4 Colgate. The Terriers won the other three Patriot League major awards announced Tuesday with Alex Heinen named Player and Defensive Player of the Year and Ali DuBois named Pitcher of the Year. BU is 34-18 overall and went 15-2 in the league. Colgate is 25-25 overall and 8-10 in the league after getting swept by Lehigh last weekend. Boston University's two losses are to Lehigh and Bucknell.
Boston University and Lehigh have alternated winning tournament titles since the Terriers joined the league in 2014. BU won titles in 2014, 2016 and 2018 while Lehigh prevailed in 2015 and 2017. Bucknell's most recent title came in 2010, while Colgate last won the Patriot League in 2007.
The Patriot League tournament gets underway Thursday with the Boston University-Colgate game at 10:30 a.m., with Lehigh and Bucknell to square off at approximately 1 p.m. The first elimination game of the tournament has been moved to Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Games four (the winner's bracket game) and five are slated for Friday, beginning at 10 a.m. The championship round featuring game six and, if necessary, game seven is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Streaming video of all Patriot League Tournament action will be available online for free via the Patriot League Network.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday May 9:
Game 1: No. 1 Boston U. vs. No. 4 Colgate, 10:30 a.m.
Game 2: No. 2. Bucknell vs. No. 3 Lehigh, 1 p.m.
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Friday May 10:
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 10 a.m.
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 12:30 p.m.
Saturday May 11:
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 1:30 p.m.*
* - if necessary
Like Lehigh Softball on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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