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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team will stay home for a single game contest this Wednesday against Saint Joseph’s at Leadership Park. Game time is set for 3:30 pm with coverage on ESPN+. The Mountain Hawks will be riding some momentum after a three-game weekend sweep against Bucknell.
Lehigh holds a 22-14-1 overall record and is now 11-1 in Patriot League play. The three-game sweep included a hard-fought 11-10 victory in game one, followed by shutouts in games two (2-0) and three (4-0). Senior Addie Kittel led the way in the batter’s box with seven hits and five runs batted in over the weekend. Classmate Carley Barjaktarovich added seven hits and scored four runs. Senior Jaelynn Chesson added a three-run home run in the top of the first inning of game one, her 11th of the season.
Sophomore Katelyn Young picked up all three wins over the weekend after providing relief in game one and then shutting out the Bison in the next two games. Young tallied 13 strikeouts and allowed just three walks. Senior Gabriella Nori was credited with a save in game one after coming back in the bottom of the seventh to close out the Bison and secure the win.
Barjaktarovich and Young picked up honorable mention recognition from the Patriot League for their efforts last week. Lehigh went 4-1, winning the resumption of a suspended game at Army last Tuesday prior to the Bucknell sweep.
Saint Joseph’s stands at 18-20 for the season. The Hawks dropped two out of three games at UMass last weekend and are now 8-4 in the Atlantic 10. Saint Joseph’s also picked up a 4-3 win over Delaware in non-league action last week. Senior Jordan Hinkle leads the Hawks’ offense with a .321 batting average, including 43 hits and 20 RBIs. Junior Madison Fife contributed a team high five home runs for Saint Joseph’s. Sophomore Emily Siler and senior Amanda Herr lead the Hawks’ pitching rotation. Both Siler and Herr hold a 3.89 ERA in 17 and 12 starts respectively. Siler has struck out 75 batters with 59 walks while Herr has struck out 48 batters with 37 walks.
Lehigh trails 27-20 in the all-time series against Saint Joseph’s with the Hawks sweeping a double header last year. The Mountain Hawks’ last win was a 4-2 victory in 2020.
After Wednesday’s game, Lehigh will host a three-game Patriot League series against Colgate. Saturday will feature a doubleheader starting at noon and the series finale will be on Sunday with the opening pitch scheduled for noon. Lehigh will recognize his senior class prior to Sunday’s game.
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Story by Joey Dotta ’23
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