Wednesday, April 17
Villanova, Pa.
3:30 PM
Lehigh University
at
Villanova
Photo by: Wendy Charles
Smith Tabbed As Rookie of the Week; Lehigh Visits Villanova Wednesday
4/16/2024 2:31:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh first-year Gracie Smith was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday.
An outfielder from Katy, Texas, Smith went 5-for-8 in Saturday's doubleheader sweep at MAAC-leading Marist with two runs scored and three RBIs. In game one, she went 3-for-4 with a run scored and then followed that performance with a 2-for-4 game including three RBIs and a run scored. Her two-RBI double in the second game was part of a six-run fourth inning for the Mountain Hawks, who went on to win game two 12-5.
Smith if the third different Lehigh player to win Rookie of the Week honors this season, joining
Peyton Sward and Holly Lovett.
Lehigh (22-14) is coming off a Saturday doubleheader sweep against defending MAAC champions. The Mountain Hawks won the first game 5-0, scoring all five runs in the sixth inning, and followed that with a 12-5 victory in the nightcap. The Mountain Hawks improved to 22-14 this season, winning 12 games in a row and 14 of their last 15 overall. Over the winning streak, the Mountain Hawks are outscoring their opponents 86-22 and are batting .313 over the 12 games.
Senior Katelyn Young threw her third complete-game shutout in as many weekends - limiting Marist to three hits in the contest. Young did not walk a batter, struck out four, and retired 13 of the last 14 batters she faced in the contest to improve to 13-7 on the season.
Lehigh softball heads to Villanova Wednesday to take on Villanova in a highly-anticipated matchup between two scorching teams.
Vilanova is 22-17 and 13-2 in conference play, with the Wildcats leading the Big East. At the plate, the Wildcats are led by senior outfielder Tess Cites who has started in all 39 of the team's games this season. Cites is leading the Wildcats with a .347 average, 41 hits, and 38 runs scored. She is also second on the team with eight homers. In the circle, senior Caroline Pellicano leads 'Nova with a 2.42 ERA.
The Wildcats lead the series 30-22-2 and have won the last two meetings. Lehigh and Villanova were scheduled to play earlier this year at JMU's Weiler Orthodontics Invitational, but the contest was rained out.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and can be watched on FloSports.
Following Wednesday's game, Lehigh will return to Leadership Park to host Lafayette in The Rivalry, presented by Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, Saturday and Sunday.
Like Lehigh Softball on Facebook and follow on X/Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
An outfielder from Katy, Texas, Smith went 5-for-8 in Saturday's doubleheader sweep at MAAC-leading Marist with two runs scored and three RBIs. In game one, she went 3-for-4 with a run scored and then followed that performance with a 2-for-4 game including three RBIs and a run scored. Her two-RBI double in the second game was part of a six-run fourth inning for the Mountain Hawks, who went on to win game two 12-5.
Smith if the third different Lehigh player to win Rookie of the Week honors this season, joining
Peyton Sward and Holly Lovett.
Lehigh (22-14) is coming off a Saturday doubleheader sweep against defending MAAC champions. The Mountain Hawks won the first game 5-0, scoring all five runs in the sixth inning, and followed that with a 12-5 victory in the nightcap. The Mountain Hawks improved to 22-14 this season, winning 12 games in a row and 14 of their last 15 overall. Over the winning streak, the Mountain Hawks are outscoring their opponents 86-22 and are batting .313 over the 12 games.
Senior Katelyn Young threw her third complete-game shutout in as many weekends - limiting Marist to three hits in the contest. Young did not walk a batter, struck out four, and retired 13 of the last 14 batters she faced in the contest to improve to 13-7 on the season.
Lehigh softball heads to Villanova Wednesday to take on Villanova in a highly-anticipated matchup between two scorching teams.
Vilanova is 22-17 and 13-2 in conference play, with the Wildcats leading the Big East. At the plate, the Wildcats are led by senior outfielder Tess Cites who has started in all 39 of the team's games this season. Cites is leading the Wildcats with a .347 average, 41 hits, and 38 runs scored. She is also second on the team with eight homers. In the circle, senior Caroline Pellicano leads 'Nova with a 2.42 ERA.
The Wildcats lead the series 30-22-2 and have won the last two meetings. Lehigh and Villanova were scheduled to play earlier this year at JMU's Weiler Orthodontics Invitational, but the contest was rained out.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and can be watched on FloSports.
Following Wednesday's game, Lehigh will return to Leadership Park to host Lafayette in The Rivalry, presented by Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, Saturday and Sunday.
Like Lehigh Softball on Facebook and follow on X/Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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