BOSTON – The Lehigh Mountain Hawks captured the 2022 Patriot League Softball Championship title on Saturday by winning two games against No. 1 Boston University at BU Softball Field in Boston, Mass.
 
Lehigh clinched their 15th League title and first since 2017 with a 4-1 victory over the Terriers in the day’s second game. The Mountain Hawks forced the final game by defeating BU, 1-0, in the first game.
 
Lehigh senior pitcher Gabriella Nori was named MVP of the championship after pitching 7.0 scoreless innings in the Mountain Hawks’ 1-0 victory over the Terriers earlier in the afternoon to force a final game. She was joined on the all-tournament squad by teammates Jaelynn Chesson (Sr., OF), Addie Kittel (Sr., IF) and Katelyn Young (So., P), whose game-two heroics helped Lehigh clinch the title.
 
Boston University’s junior pitcher Allison Boaz, graduate student outfielder Jen Horita and sophomore outfielder Lauren Keleher claimed spots on the all-tournament team.

The Mountain Hawks received the League’s automatic berth to the NCAA DI Softball Championship and will learn their opponent during the selection show on Sunday, May 15 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
 
2022 Patriot League Softball Tournament Most Valuable Player Gabriella Nori, Lehigh, Sr., P

2022 Patriot League Softball All-Tournament Team
Gabriella Nori, Lehigh, Sr., P
Jaelynn Chesson, Lehigh, Sr., OF
Addie Kittel, Lehigh, Sr., IF
Katelyn Young, Lehigh, So., P
Allison Boaz, Boston University, Jr., P/UTL
Jen Horita, Boston University, Gr., OF
Lauren Keleher, Boston University, So., OF
Jolie Duong, Army West Point, Sr., P/UTL
Lauren Little, Army West Point, So., INF/OF
Kara Fusco, Colgate, So., INF
Bailey Misken, Colgate, Jr., P
 
No. 2 Lehigh Mountain Hawks (29-18-1, 15-3 PL) 1 vs. No. 1 Boston University Terriers (40-16, 16-2 PL) 0
GAME 1: Box Score
BOSTON – Senior pitcher Gabriella Nori threw 7.0 shutout innings to lead No. 2 Lehigh to a 1-0 victory over No. 1 Boston University, forcing a final game at the 2022 Patriot League Softball Championship.
*Nori and the Mountain Hawks’ defense stranded six Terriers on the base paths in the win.
*Lehigh junior second baseman Josie Charles led off the bottom of the third inning with a single later and crossed the plate on a Boston University throwing error, giving the Mountain Hawks a 1-0 lead.
*Charles, senior right fielder Jaelynn Chesson, senior shortstop Carley Barjaktarovich and senior third baseman Karsen O’Rourke all singled in the Mountain Hawks’ win.
*Boston University junior third baseman Caitlin Coker went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Terriers
*Junior pitcher Allison Boaz took the tough-luck loss by allowing one unearned run on four hits through 6.0 innings.
Recaps: Boston University | Lehigh   
 
No. 2 Lehigh Mountain Hawks (30-18-1, 15-3 PL) 4 vs. No. 1 Boston University Terriers (40-17, 16-2 PL) 1
GAME 2: Box Score
BOSTON – Back-to-back home runs from Jaelynn Chesson and Addie Kittel in the top of the third inning lifted No. 2 Lehigh to a 4-1 victory over No. 1 Boston University to claim their first Patriot League title since 2017.
*Lehigh registered all four of their runs in the third on a three-run home from Chesson and a solo shot from Kittel. Chesson’s home run was her 14th of the season, setting a Lehigh program record.
*Mountain Hawks’ sophomore pitcher Katelyn Young earned the win by allowing one run on five hits through 7.0 innings.
*In the bottom of the seventh inning, BU sophomore infielder Kate Pryor’s pinch-hit single to center field drove in senior outfielder Aliyah Huerta-Leipner to make the score 4-1, but Young recorded the final two outs to seal the Lehigh victory.
*Lehigh sophomore pitcher Katelyn Young gave up five hits while Dudley had nine putouts and one assist.
*Sophomore infielder Kayla Roncin broke BU’s single-season hits record with a first-inning single, her 81st of the season.
*Terriers’ sophomore rightfielder Lauren Keleher went 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot in the lineup.
*BU junior pitcher Lizzy Avery came on to throw 4.0 scoreless innings of relief. She recorded six strikeouts.
Recaps: Boston University | Lehigh   

Patriot League Championship Schedule
Thursday, May 12 | BU Softball Field
Game 1 – No. 1 Boston University 3 vs. No. 4 Colgate 2
Game 2 – No. 2 Lehigh University 3 vs. No. 3 Army West Point 2
 
Friday, May 13 | BU Softball Field
Game 3 – No. 1 Boston University 1 vs. No. 2 Lehigh 0
Game 4 – No. 4 Colgate vs. No. 3 Army West Point
Game 5 – Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
 
Saturday, May 14 | BU Softball Field
Game 6 – No. 1 Boston University 0 vs. No. 2 Lehigh 1
Game 7 – No. 1 Boston University 1 vs. No. 2 Lehigh 4
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.