Posted: 05/07/2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After capturing its 17th Patriot League softball regular season title, Lehigh will host the 2012 Patriot League Softball Tournament, beginning Thursday at Kaufman Field. The Mountain Hawks are the defending tournament champions and the No. 1 seed as they will open up against No. 4 seed and arch rival Lafayette Thursday at noon.
Lehigh finished the regular season at 37-17 overall and 18-2 in league games. The Mountain Hawks clinched their first regular season title since 2009 with a doubleheader sweep of Army on the final day of the league season. The Black Knights of Army will be the No. 2 seed and will face No. 3 seed Colgate in Thursday’s second game at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Friday May 11 marks the second day of the double-elimination tournament, with the winners of the first two games meeting at 11 a.m. and the losers meeting in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. The winner of game four will play the loser of game three at 4 p.m.
The tournament is scheduled to wrap-up Saturday with the championship round with the winner of game three meeting the winner of game five at noon, with an if necessary deciding game to follow immediately.
Lehigh has won six of the last eight tournament titles, including last year’s title which was won in dominating fashion in Hamilton, N.Y. The Mountain Hawks outscored their opponents 29-4 in three games en route to their 11th Patriot League softball tournament crown a year ago.
The Mountain Hawks swept four game series from both Lafayette and Colgate this season, while taking three of four from Army on the final weekend of league play.
On Monday, broadcast information for the Patriot League tournament was finalized. Audio coverage of every game in the Patriot League tournament will be available through Patriot League All-Access. Lehigh fans should note that Patriot League All-Access is a different broadcast outlet then Lehigh’s normal streaming partner Stretch Internet. Lehigh games in the Patriot League tournament will only be available through Patriot League All-Access.
The Patriot League is expected to announce its All-League teams and major award winners on Tuesday, while Lehigh’s Patriot League tournament preview will be available on Wednesday.
2012 Patriot League Softball Tournament
Thursday, May 10
Game one: No. 1 Lehigh vs. No. 4 Lafayette, 12 p.m.
Game two: No. 2 Army vs. No. 3 Colgate, 2:30 p.m.
Friday, May 11
Game three: Game one winner vs. Game two winner, 11 a.m.
Game four: Game one loser vs. Game two loser, 1:30 p.m.
Game five: Game four winner vs. Game three loser, 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 13
Game six: Game three winner vs. Game five winner, 12 p.m.
Game seven: Game six rematch (if necessary), 2:30 p.m.