Mountain Hawks visit Rider for Wednesday doubleheader
Posted: 04/03/2012 | Last updated: April 3, 2012 at 02:43 PM
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Coming off an impressive series sweep of rival Lafayette, Lehigh will travel to Lawrenceville, N.J. Wednesday for an afternoon doubleheader with the Rider Broncs. First pitch for game one is set for 3 p.m. from Herb & Joan Young Field as the Mountain Hawks will put their season-high-tying six game winning streak on the line.
Lehigh dominated Lafayette across the board in the weekend series sweep. The Mountain Hawks hit .429 as a team and outscored the Leopards by a 35-4 margin in the four games. Seniors Audra Wood and Jen Colquhoun led the charge as both batted .583 and registered seven hits in the four games. Colquhoun smacked three home runs in the series, capping a stellar week in which she batted .611, registered 13 RBIs and scored 9 runs. Colquhoun leads the team in home runs (nine), hits (30), and RBIs (43).
In the pitcher’s circle Emily Bausher and Rebecca Bliss were equally impressive for the Mountain Hawks as they combined for 28 strikeouts, while posting a 1.08 ERA. Bausher captured the Patriot League’s Rookie of the Week award yet again as she went 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA in three starts last week. She pitched two shutouts against Lafayette while allowing just two hits in each contest. The New Jersey native leads the Patriot League with a 1.34 ERA and ranks second in victories (nine) and strikeouts (120).
Rider (11-18-1) has gotten off to a slow start this season but has won four of its last five contests. The Broncos are coming off a doubleheader sweep of Manhattan Sunday in only its second home series of the season.
Senior pitcher Rachel Matreale has been steady for Rider this season. She has compiled a 10-6 record and leads the team with a 2.29 ERA. Matreale went 3-0 last week and was honored as the MAAC’S Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season.
Freshman Allysen Breeden is one of two Broncos to appear in all 30 of the team’s games this season. Breeden leads the team in hits (27) and RBIs (17) and is second in batting average (.318). Breeden has been named the MAAC’s Rookie of the Week twice this season. Third baseman Alyssa Paul is the reigning MAAC Player of the Week after a strong showing at the plate against Manhattan.
Lehigh and Rider split a doubleheader last year at Kaufman Field with the Mountain Hawks winning game one 6-0 and the Broncs taking the nightcap 8-4. Rider leads the all-time series between the teams 32-14.
The Mountain Hawks will return to Kaufman this weekend for a four-game Patriot League series with Bucknell before heading on the road for their next six games.