May 9, 2015
Patriot League Softball Championship Central | Box Score
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Thirteen was a lucky number for the Lehigh softball team on Saturday as the Mountain Hawks captured their 13th Patriot League Softball Tournament crown with an 8-0 victory over Bucknell at Leadership Park.
Senior pitcher Emily Bausher, the two-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, earned her third win of the postseason to improve to 21-5 while recording a Patriot League record-tying 11th shutout of the season.
Lehigh (39-7) put up single runs off Bucknell starting pitcher Amanda Fazio in four of the first five innings before breaking the game open with four runs off Bison reliever Dana Nielsen in the top of the sixth. Patriot League Rookie of the Year Nicole Yozzo was the tablesetter all afternoon at the top of the order for the Mountain Hawks with a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring twice and knocking in two.
Junior third baseman Morgan Decker knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and also added an RBI single in the four-run sixth. Senior Emma Capetz, Alexis Watanabe and Mackenzie Velasquez each contributed two of Lehigh's 13 hits. Jessica Calvini, who delivered the game-winning single in the Mountain Hawks 5-4 walkoff win over Bucknell on Friday, was named to the All-Tournament team along with Watanabe, Capetz and Tournament MVP Bausher.
The Mountain Hawks are now headed to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time overall and the eighth time in the last 12 years. The title was the first for the Lehigh since 2012 after falling short in each of the past two seasons, despite being regular season champions and tournament host in both 2013 and 2014. Coach Fran Troyan's squad will learn their 2015 Regional location and opponent during the NCAA Softball selection show televised on ESPNU at 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Bucknell ends a very successful season with a program record 35 wins under Patriot League Coach of the Year Bonnie Skrenta that included a stetch of 15 wins in 16 contests prior to Friday's loss to Lehigh.
For box scores, recaps and links to video archives from the 2015 Patriot League Softball Tournament, go to Patriot League Softball Championship Central.
Patriot League Softball All-Tournament Team
Emily Bausher, Lehigh, Sr. (MVP)
Jessica Calvini, Lehigh, Jr.
Emma Capetz, Lehigh, Sr.
Alexis Watanabe, Lehigh, Jr.
Erin Cox, Bucknell, Sr.
Amanda Fazio, Bucknell, Jr.
Meghan Kovac, Bucknell, Fr.
Emily Gray, Army West Point, Fr.
Caroline Smith, Army West Point, So.
Katie Bushee, Colgate, So.
Brigit Ieuter, Colgate, Jr.