Lehigh University Athletics
Wednesday, March 22
Bethlehem, Pa.
3:30 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Monmouth
Photo by: Jason Homan
Charles, Owens Win Weekly Awards As Lehigh Looks To Wednesday Home Opener
3/21/2023 2:03:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team picked up a pair of Patriot League weekly awards Tuesday for performances over the final eight games of the Mountain Hawks' spring break trip to Florida. Senior Josie Charles earned the first Player of the Week award of her career, while first-year Lily Owens was recognized as the Rookie of the Week for the third time this season.
Â
Lehigh went 8-4 overall in Florida, going 6-1 at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach (including wins in two of its last three games) and 2-3 at the South Florida Showdown in Tampa.
Â
Charles hit safely in all eight games last week and led the Mountain Hawks with a .520 batting average (13-for-25). She had a pair of extra base hits, scored four runs, drove in four runs and stole seven bases. Charles went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases on Wednesday as Lehigh closed out The Spring Games with a win over Princeton. She went 3-for-3 against USF on Friday and closed out the week by going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIS in Lehigh's 10-9 victory over Marist.
Â
Overall, Charles leads Lehigh with a .424 batting average, starting all 24 games in left field. Her 34 hits are tops on the team and she has added two doubles, two triples, 11 runs scored, 11 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
Â
Owens ranked second on the Mountain Hawks with a .320 batting average last week, going 8-for-25 with four extra base hits. She delivered the go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning of Lehigh's 4-3 win over Iona on March 14 and added two hits the following day in a win over Princeton and went 2-for-3 with another two-run home run against Marist on March 18. Owens drove in six runs last week including two in the spring break finale against the Red Foxes
Â
For the season, Owens is batting .296 and leads the Mountain Hawks with 21 runs scored. She ranks second on the team with five home runs and third with 13 RBIs in 24 games.
Â
The Mountain Hawks (18-6) will host their home opener on Wednesday when they welcome Monmouth to Leadership Park for a 3:30 p.m. single game.
Â
In addition to Charles' and Owens' offensive success, graduate student Carley Barjaktarovich has her average up to .326 with 19 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. Senior Emily Cimino has been the top run producer with seven doubles, six home runs and 25 RBIs to go along with a .308 average.
Â
Four Lehigh pitchers have thrown to a 2.26 ERA, with first-year Chloe Hess (1.81) and junior Katelyn Young (1.93) coming in under 2.00. Young leads Lehigh with nine wins and 54 strikeouts in 72.2 innings, while Hess owns six wins and 51 strikeouts in 58 innings of work.
Â
Monmouth brings a 3-15 record into Wednesday's game. The Hawks opened their home slate with a series against Elon where Monmouth won one and dropped two over the weekend. Bri Lawson leads the Hawks with a .283 batting average while Abby Warner has two home runs and eight RBIs. Billie Kerwood leads Monmouth with a 2.69 ERA and 55 strikeouts this season.
Â
Lehigh leads the all-time series with Monmouth 12-10, but the teams have not met since 2010 when the Hawks swept a doubleheader in West Long Branch, N.J. The Mountain Hawks won the last two meetings in Bethlehem back in April 2009.
Â
Following Wednesday's game, Lehigh will open Patriot League play with a three-game series at rival Lafayette featuring a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday with action both days beginning at noon.
Â
Like Lehigh Softball on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Â
Â
Lehigh went 8-4 overall in Florida, going 6-1 at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach (including wins in two of its last three games) and 2-3 at the South Florida Showdown in Tampa.
Â
Charles hit safely in all eight games last week and led the Mountain Hawks with a .520 batting average (13-for-25). She had a pair of extra base hits, scored four runs, drove in four runs and stole seven bases. Charles went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases on Wednesday as Lehigh closed out The Spring Games with a win over Princeton. She went 3-for-3 against USF on Friday and closed out the week by going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIS in Lehigh's 10-9 victory over Marist.
Â
Overall, Charles leads Lehigh with a .424 batting average, starting all 24 games in left field. Her 34 hits are tops on the team and she has added two doubles, two triples, 11 runs scored, 11 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
Â
Owens ranked second on the Mountain Hawks with a .320 batting average last week, going 8-for-25 with four extra base hits. She delivered the go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning of Lehigh's 4-3 win over Iona on March 14 and added two hits the following day in a win over Princeton and went 2-for-3 with another two-run home run against Marist on March 18. Owens drove in six runs last week including two in the spring break finale against the Red Foxes
Â
For the season, Owens is batting .296 and leads the Mountain Hawks with 21 runs scored. She ranks second on the team with five home runs and third with 13 RBIs in 24 games.
Â
The Mountain Hawks (18-6) will host their home opener on Wednesday when they welcome Monmouth to Leadership Park for a 3:30 p.m. single game.
Â
In addition to Charles' and Owens' offensive success, graduate student Carley Barjaktarovich has her average up to .326 with 19 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. Senior Emily Cimino has been the top run producer with seven doubles, six home runs and 25 RBIs to go along with a .308 average.
Â
Four Lehigh pitchers have thrown to a 2.26 ERA, with first-year Chloe Hess (1.81) and junior Katelyn Young (1.93) coming in under 2.00. Young leads Lehigh with nine wins and 54 strikeouts in 72.2 innings, while Hess owns six wins and 51 strikeouts in 58 innings of work.
Â
Monmouth brings a 3-15 record into Wednesday's game. The Hawks opened their home slate with a series against Elon where Monmouth won one and dropped two over the weekend. Bri Lawson leads the Hawks with a .283 batting average while Abby Warner has two home runs and eight RBIs. Billie Kerwood leads Monmouth with a 2.69 ERA and 55 strikeouts this season.
Â
Lehigh leads the all-time series with Monmouth 12-10, but the teams have not met since 2010 when the Hawks swept a doubleheader in West Long Branch, N.J. The Mountain Hawks won the last two meetings in Bethlehem back in April 2009.
Â
Following Wednesday's game, Lehigh will open Patriot League play with a three-game series at rival Lafayette featuring a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday with action both days beginning at noon.
Â
Like Lehigh Softball on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Â
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballLehigh Sports Central: Softball
Wednesday, April 30
2025 Season Preview: Softball
Thursday, February 06
Lehigh Sports Central: Softball
Wednesday, April 17
