Lehighsports.com

PLANT CITY, Fla. – Lehigh opened up its spring break trip to Florida by picking up its first two victories of the season in the Plant City tournament. Freshman Lisa Sweeney tossed a no-hitter and hit her first career home run to lead the Mountain Hawks to a 9-0 win over Harvard in their first game of the day. The nightcap saw Lehigh capitalize on six Saint Joseph’s errors in a 10-2 victory in six innings. The wins improve Lehigh’s record to 2-5 on the season.

Sweeney, the 2006 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, bounced back from two tough outings at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with her third career no-hitter, allowing just three walks while striking out six to improve to 1-2 on the season. She helped her own cause with a seventh inning two-run home run to cap off the scoring in game one.

Lehigh and Harvard (0-2) remained scoreless into the top of the fifth until junior Kate Marvel drilled her first career home-run, a two run shot, to give the Mountain Hawks a 2-0 lead. Marvel added a two-run single in the following frame, as part of a five run sixth inning. She finished 3-for-4 with four RBI.

Against Saint Joseph’s (0-2), Lehigh trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning before senior Heather Hamasaki drove in junior Megan Conrad with an RBI double. The Mountain Hawks took the lead for good in the third inning, on a two-run double from freshman Brooke Lewis.

Freshman Amy Piccinich went 2-for-4 at the plate, driving in three runs on a fourth inning single and a sixth inning two-run double. An RBI single from senior Whitney Schenbeck plated classmate Lauren Haney with Lehigh’s final run as the game was ended due to the eight run rule.

In the pitchers circle, freshman Tiffany Curtis notched her first career victory, allowing two runs on five hits while fanning eight in six innings of work. Curtis improves to 1-2 on the season.

The Mountain Hawks will continue action at the Plant City tournament with a doubleheader against Big Ten member Michigan State beginning at 11:00 am.