Friday, April 8
3:30PM
Lehigh University
22-8, 0
12
vs
0
Colgate
4-17, 0
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Colgate
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
Lehigh
7
1
4
0
X
12
12
4
Seven-run first lifts Lehigh to 12-0 win over Colgate; Saturday's doubleheader postponed
4/8/2016 6:32:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Senior Morgan Decker belted a three-run home run for her 200th career hit as the Lehigh softball team used a seven-run first inning to defeat Colgate 12-0 in five innings in the opening game of a three-game series Friday at Leadership Park. Decker went 3-for-4 with four RBIs as the Mountain Hawks pounded out 12 hits to support junior Christine Campbell, who posted the five-inning one-hit shutout.
"We came out and hit very well in the beginning which was a good thing," Lehigh head coach Fran Troyan said. "Morgan had a really big three-run home run to begin things and that really set the stage for the rest of the day."
The win ups Lehigh's record to 22-8 overall and 4-0 in the Patriot League, while Colgate falls to 4-17 and 1-2 in the league.
Colgate's lone hit was a leadoff double by Katie Bushee in the top of the first but Campbell stranded her at second base with three straight outs.
The bottom of the first began with sophomore Nicole Yozzo drawing a leadoff walk and then moving to third on a double to center by senior Alexis Watanabe. Decker then went opposite field, lifting a three-run wind-aided home run to left to put the Mountain Hawks in front 3-0. The homer was Decker's fifth of the season and her 200th career hit.
"She's going to go down in the annals as one of the best players we've ever had," Troyan said of Decker. "She is a tremendous hitter. A tremendous player. A character kid and a great leader.
"She doesn't have to play any better than her ability level and that's what she's doing right now," Troyan continued. "With her ability level she's capable of carrying a team and we're happy about that."
Lehigh then loaded the bases with one out before sophomore Rachel Timberman singled through the left side, scoring senior Jessica Calvini to put the Mountain Hawks 4-0. Senior MacKenzie Velasquez followed with a two-run single and after a RBI groundout by Yozzo, Lehigh led 7-0 after one.
The Mountain Hawks added a run in the second when Decker reached on the first of four Colgate errors. Pinch runner Brianna Gerhardt then stole second and scored on a single to center by Calvini.
Lehigh added four more runs in the fourth. Yozzo delivered a one-out bunt single and Watanabe followed with a RBI triple. Decker and junior Vicky Lattanzio followed with consecutive RBI doubles to put Lehigh up 11-0 while the Mountain Hawks' 12th run came home when pinch runner Ashley Cole scored when sophomore Katie Schultz reached on an error.
Campbell completed her second shutout of the season despite allowing eight baserunners in five innings. She only allowed one hit, but issued two walks and hit a batter while the Mountain Hawks matched the Raiders by making four errors in the field. Campbell did strike out eight and improves to 13-4 on the season.
"(Christine) did a great job for us," Troyan said. "She was on a mission today. The first hit was the first batter of the game. After that she settled in and really kept them at bay the entire game."
Brigit Ieuter lasted just one-third of an inning and took the loss, allowing seven runs on five hits. Megan Carnase allowed five runs (four earned) in 3.2 innings of work.
In addition to Decker's 3-for-4 effort, Watanabe and Lattanzio each had two hits for the Mountain Hawks.
Saturday's scheduled doubleheader between Lehigh and Colgate has been postponed to Sunday due to the threat of inclement weather. The Mountain Hawks and Raiders will now try to play a doubleheader Sunday at Leadership Park with first pitch for game one set for noon. Both ends of the doubleheader will be streamed on the Patriot League Network.
"We came out and hit very well in the beginning which was a good thing," Lehigh head coach Fran Troyan said. "Morgan had a really big three-run home run to begin things and that really set the stage for the rest of the day."
The win ups Lehigh's record to 22-8 overall and 4-0 in the Patriot League, while Colgate falls to 4-17 and 1-2 in the league.
Colgate's lone hit was a leadoff double by Katie Bushee in the top of the first but Campbell stranded her at second base with three straight outs.
The bottom of the first began with sophomore Nicole Yozzo drawing a leadoff walk and then moving to third on a double to center by senior Alexis Watanabe. Decker then went opposite field, lifting a three-run wind-aided home run to left to put the Mountain Hawks in front 3-0. The homer was Decker's fifth of the season and her 200th career hit.
"She's going to go down in the annals as one of the best players we've ever had," Troyan said of Decker. "She is a tremendous hitter. A tremendous player. A character kid and a great leader.
"She doesn't have to play any better than her ability level and that's what she's doing right now," Troyan continued. "With her ability level she's capable of carrying a team and we're happy about that."
Lehigh then loaded the bases with one out before sophomore Rachel Timberman singled through the left side, scoring senior Jessica Calvini to put the Mountain Hawks 4-0. Senior MacKenzie Velasquez followed with a two-run single and after a RBI groundout by Yozzo, Lehigh led 7-0 after one.
The Mountain Hawks added a run in the second when Decker reached on the first of four Colgate errors. Pinch runner Brianna Gerhardt then stole second and scored on a single to center by Calvini.
Lehigh added four more runs in the fourth. Yozzo delivered a one-out bunt single and Watanabe followed with a RBI triple. Decker and junior Vicky Lattanzio followed with consecutive RBI doubles to put Lehigh up 11-0 while the Mountain Hawks' 12th run came home when pinch runner Ashley Cole scored when sophomore Katie Schultz reached on an error.
Campbell completed her second shutout of the season despite allowing eight baserunners in five innings. She only allowed one hit, but issued two walks and hit a batter while the Mountain Hawks matched the Raiders by making four errors in the field. Campbell did strike out eight and improves to 13-4 on the season.
"(Christine) did a great job for us," Troyan said. "She was on a mission today. The first hit was the first batter of the game. After that she settled in and really kept them at bay the entire game."
Brigit Ieuter lasted just one-third of an inning and took the loss, allowing seven runs on five hits. Megan Carnase allowed five runs (four earned) in 3.2 innings of work.
In addition to Decker's 3-for-4 effort, Watanabe and Lattanzio each had two hits for the Mountain Hawks.
Saturday's scheduled doubleheader between Lehigh and Colgate has been postponed to Sunday due to the threat of inclement weather. The Mountain Hawks and Raiders will now try to play a doubleheader Sunday at Leadership Park with first pitch for game one set for noon. Both ends of the doubleheader will be streamed on the Patriot League Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Campbell, Christine (13-4)
L: Ieuter, Brigit (3-9)
Batting:
2B: Bushee, Katie 1
Base Running:
HBP: Grennan, Tara 1
Batting:
2B: Watanabe, Alexis 1 ; Decker, Morgan 1 ; Lattanzio, Vicky 1
3B: Watanabe, Alexis 1
HR: Decker, Morgan 1
RBI: Yozzo, Nicole 1 ; Watanabe, Alexis 1 ; Decker, Morgan 4 ; Lattanzio, Vicky 1 ; Calvini, Jessica 1 ; Schultz, Katie 1 ; Timberman, Rachel 1 ; Velasquez, MacKenzie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Yozzo, Nicole 2 ; Watanabe, Alexis 2 ; Decker, Morgan 2 ; Gerhardt, Brianna 1 ; Cole, Ashley 1 ; Calvini, Jessica 1 ; Schultz, Katie 1 ; Zito, Carissa 1 ; Timberman, Rachel 1
SB: Gerhardt, Brianna 1 ; Schultz, Katie 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
C/UT
/ SoftballUT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballOF
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