Friday, February 10
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
2:00 PM (ET)
Lehigh University
vs
Georgia Southern
Photo by: Richard McEnery
Lehigh To Open 2023 Campaign at Alabama's Leadoff Classic
2/9/2023 9:16:00 AM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team is headed south to open the 2023 campaign as the defending Patriot League champion Mountain Hawks will kick off the new year at Alabama's Leadoff Classic, Friday and Saturday at Rhoads Stadium.
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The Mountain Hawks will play consecutive games against Georgia Southern (1 p.m. CT) and No. 7/9 Alabama (3:30 p.m. CT) on Friday and then will play the same two teams again on Saturday, taking on the Eagles at 11 a.m. CT and the Crimson Tide at 4 p.m. CT.
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Lehigh is coming off a 31-20-1 campaign in 2022 capped by the program's 15th Patriot League Tournament championship. The Mountain Hawks went on to play in the NCAA Seattle Regional, going 1-2 and defeating Weber State for the program's first NCAA Tournament victory since 2015.
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Ten members of last year's championship squad return, led by fifth-year senior shortstop Carley Barjaktarovich, senior outfielder Emily Cimino and junior pitcher Katelyn Young, who were selected to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team last week. In all, six positional starters return with senior Josie Charles, junior catcher Amanda Greaney, junior outfielder Brooke Cannon and sophomore catcher/first baseman Rory Dudley joining Barjaktarovich and Cimino. Charles is expected to move to the outfield after seeing time at second base and third base last season.
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Six newcomers join the Mountain Hawks including five first-years and sophomore infielder Maddy Schmeiser, who transferred from NC State.
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Georgia Southern went 13-34 last season and was picked 11th in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll. The Eagles return their top hitter in catcher Janai Conklin and their No. 2 pitcher from a season ago in Kastin Belogorska.
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Lehigh is 2-0 all-time versus Georgia Southern with a 9-4 win in Orlando, Fla., in 2017 and a 1-0 victory in Kissimmee, Fla., to open the 2020 campaign.
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Perennial SEC power Alabama is coming off a 44-13 season in which the Crimson Tide hosted a regional before falling to Stanford in the regional final. The fifth-year senior battery of pitcher Montana Fouts and catcher Ally Shipman were both named to the Preseason All-SEC team. Fouts and outfielder Faith Hensley were both named to USA Softball's Player of the Year preseason watch list.
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Friday's game will be the first between Lehigh and Alabama. Lehigh is 3-9 all-time versus current SEC members, with all three victories coming against Texas A&M when the Aggies were members of the Big 12. Last year, Lehigh played Arkansas in Harrisonburg, Va.
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Both contests against Alabama will be streamed on SECN+ while live stats will be available for all four contests.
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Next weekend, Lehigh will head to Virginia to play in the HU/NSU Tour Classic Feb. 17-19. The Mountain Hawks will play games against Georgetown, UMass-Lowell, Hampton, Quinnipiac and Wagner.
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The Mountain Hawks will play consecutive games against Georgia Southern (1 p.m. CT) and No. 7/9 Alabama (3:30 p.m. CT) on Friday and then will play the same two teams again on Saturday, taking on the Eagles at 11 a.m. CT and the Crimson Tide at 4 p.m. CT.
Â
Lehigh is coming off a 31-20-1 campaign in 2022 capped by the program's 15th Patriot League Tournament championship. The Mountain Hawks went on to play in the NCAA Seattle Regional, going 1-2 and defeating Weber State for the program's first NCAA Tournament victory since 2015.
Â
Ten members of last year's championship squad return, led by fifth-year senior shortstop Carley Barjaktarovich, senior outfielder Emily Cimino and junior pitcher Katelyn Young, who were selected to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team last week. In all, six positional starters return with senior Josie Charles, junior catcher Amanda Greaney, junior outfielder Brooke Cannon and sophomore catcher/first baseman Rory Dudley joining Barjaktarovich and Cimino. Charles is expected to move to the outfield after seeing time at second base and third base last season.
Â
Six newcomers join the Mountain Hawks including five first-years and sophomore infielder Maddy Schmeiser, who transferred from NC State.
Â
Georgia Southern went 13-34 last season and was picked 11th in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll. The Eagles return their top hitter in catcher Janai Conklin and their No. 2 pitcher from a season ago in Kastin Belogorska.
Â
Lehigh is 2-0 all-time versus Georgia Southern with a 9-4 win in Orlando, Fla., in 2017 and a 1-0 victory in Kissimmee, Fla., to open the 2020 campaign.
Â
Perennial SEC power Alabama is coming off a 44-13 season in which the Crimson Tide hosted a regional before falling to Stanford in the regional final. The fifth-year senior battery of pitcher Montana Fouts and catcher Ally Shipman were both named to the Preseason All-SEC team. Fouts and outfielder Faith Hensley were both named to USA Softball's Player of the Year preseason watch list.
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Friday's game will be the first between Lehigh and Alabama. Lehigh is 3-9 all-time versus current SEC members, with all three victories coming against Texas A&M when the Aggies were members of the Big 12. Last year, Lehigh played Arkansas in Harrisonburg, Va.
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Both contests against Alabama will be streamed on SECN+ while live stats will be available for all four contests.
Â
Next weekend, Lehigh will head to Virginia to play in the HU/NSU Tour Classic Feb. 17-19. The Mountain Hawks will play games against Georgetown, UMass-Lowell, Hampton, Quinnipiac and Wagner.
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Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/UT
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
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