Lehigh closes out TU Invitational with weather-shortened win over Iona
Posted: 03/03/2013
TOWSON, Md. – For the third time in as many days a Lehigh softball game was cut short, but on Sunday the Mountain Hawks used a four-run third inning to defeat Iona 6-2 in a game that was called in the top of the sixth inning. The game was called due to weather with the Mountain Hawks batting with runners on second and third in the sixth inning.
Lehigh finishes the Towson Invitational with a 3-1-1 record.
The Mountain Hawks loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the third inning on two singles and a hit batsman. Freshman Alexis Watanabe scored the game’s first run on an illegal pitch. After a walk and a double play, junior pinch runner Kristin Taft scored on a passed ball to put Lehigh up 2-0 and freshman Carissa Zito followed with a pinch-hit two run single that gave the Mountain Hawks a 4-0 lead.
Iona (4-8) scored a run on a passed ball in the bottom of the third, but the Mountain Hawks tacked on two more runs in the fourth on a bases-loaded double by junior Lizzy Odren.
The Gaels scored a second run in the bottom of the fifth as Jodi Petersen brought home an unearned run with a RBI ground out.
Iona pitcher Carly Argyle opened the sixth with walks to freshman Morgan Decker and senior Liz Lucas and a passed ball put runners at second and third before the game was halted and eventually called due to weather.
Senior Becca Bliss won her second game of the weekend, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in five innings. Bliss struck out four and did not walk a batter. Argyle took the loss for Iona allowing six runs on six hits. She struck out six but walked eight for the Gaels. Freshman MacKenzie Velasquez had two of Lehigh’s six hits on the day.
The Mountain Hawks will return to action on Wednesday when they visit Temple for a doubleheader with first pitch for game one set for 2:30 p.m.