May 9, 2009

Bethlehem, Pa.--Lehigh won its 10th Patriot League Softball Championship with a 9-0 win over rival Lafayette in extra innings on Saturday at Kaufman Field. After the teams battled to a scoreless tie through seven innings, the Mountain Hawks exploded for eight runs in the eighth inning to claim its fifth title in the last six seasons. With the championship, Lehigh received the Patriot League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Mountain Hawks will learn their tournament fate tomorrow evening.

Lehigh senior Lisa Sweeney and Lafayette junior Kasey Karr settled into a pitching duel. Sweeney held the Leopards scoreless and scattered three hits, while Karr allowed just four hits through the game's first seven innings. In the extra frame, Lehigh busted loose, scoring nine runs on eight hits. Sweeney, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, went 2-for-2 in the inning with a lead-off double and a three RBI triple. She was 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs in the championship tilt.

Sweeney pitched in all three of Lehigh's tournament games, allowing just two just two runs on 10 hits in 22 innings of work. She walked just five batters while striking out 21. At the plate, she was 7-for-9 (.778) with six RBI and two runs scored.

Leading Lafayette at the plate on Saturday was Stacey Kushner. The sophomore second baseman had two of the Leopards' three hits, including a double in the second inning.

Results and box scores for this weekend's competition can be found on the Patriot League web site on the main page as well as on the Softball Championship Page which can be accessed by clicking here.

2009 Patriot League Tournament MVP

Lisa Sweeney, Lehigh

2009 Patriot League All-Tournament Team

Ashley Carlson, Bucknell

Cassie Lloyd, Bucknell

Erin Gomez, Colgate

Jennifer Ortega, Colgate

Christina Giambrone, Lafayette

Kasey Karr, Lafayette

Stacey Kushner, Lafayette

Alex Cueva, Lehigh

Alisha Gonzales, Lehigh

Mickey LaValley, Lehigh

Whitney Lowe, Lehigh

Lisa Sweeney, Lehigh

2009 Patriot League Tournament

Thursday, May 7

Game 1: No. 1 Lehigh 1, No. 4 Lafayette 0

Game 2: No. 3 Bucknell 7, No. 2 Colgate 3

Friday, May 8

Game 3: Lehigh 6, Bucknell 2

Game 4: Lafayette 8, Colgate 5

Game 5: Lafayette 4, Bucknell 1

Saturday, May 9

Game 6: Lehigh 9, Lafayette 0 (8 innings)