Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Lehigh
Softball Set to Host Lehigh
April 26, 2024 | Softball
The Black Knights will celebrate and recognize their six seniors before Sunday's game.Â
Fans can catch the action on ESPN+ and follow along live scoring here.Â
GAME NOTES
LAST TIME OUTÂ
The last time Army took to the field, they split a midweek, non conference doubleheader against Seton Hall.Â
Game 1:Â
The first four innings of the game between Army and Seton Hall remained scoreless, with Olivia Farris and Kyra Kreuscher pitching effectively.
Army's outfield made key defensive plays, including Parker Llantero's diving catch in the second inning and Lauren Little's catch over the back wall in the third.
Seton Hall broke the tie in the top of the fifth inning with a single to left field.
Army quickly responded in the bottom of the fifth, with Mikayla Klepfer's single driving in Ellie Caldwell and Llantero's RBI single giving them the lead.
Relief pitcher Breanna Izzo secured the win in the top of the seventh by preventing Seton Hall from scoring further.
Mikayla Klepfer stood out with a stellar performance, going two-for-two at the plate with one RBI.
Game 2:Â
Seton Hall took an early lead in the top of the first inning with Taylor Hill hitting a leadoff home run.
Both teams remained scoreless in the second inning.
In the top of the third, Seton Hall extended their lead with a run scored off a fielding error, prompting Army to change pitchers to Amanda Eaglin.
Seton Hall continued their scoring momentum with another run scored off an RBI double.
Army finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning with Sophie Smith hitting her first career home run, narrowing the deficit to two runs.
In the bottom of the fifth, Army rallied, with Kayla Edwards and Ashton White hitting RBI singles to tie the score. However, Seton Hall regained the lead in the top of the sixth with a run scored off a single up the middle.
Despite Breanna Izzo preventing Seton Hall from scoring in the seventh inning, Army couldn't produce a hit in the bottom of the seventh, resulting in a 4-3 loss for the Black Knights.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Lehigh and Army boast a longstanding rivalry, having faced off nearly 150 times since the beginning of both programs.
Currently, Lehigh holds the upper hand in the series, with 104 wins compared to Army's 41.
Their most recent match up occurred in the Patriot League semifinals last season. In a thrilling match, Army emerged victorious with a remarkable 6-2 win over the favored Lehigh.
TEAM AND PLAYER NOTES
Two Black Knights recently achieved significant milestones on the diamond. Julia Farris notched her first home run of the season, marking her third career homer, in a game against Central Connecticut last Wednesday. Meanwhile, Sophie Smith launched her inaugural career home run against Seton Hall on Wednesday.
Pitcher Breanna Izzo reached a noteworthy career milestone against UAlbany, amassing her 100th career strikeout as a sophomore.
Kayla Edwards continues to shine in the Patriot League, maintaining a .379 batting average and leading the team in total hits, securing her spot in the top five hitters of the league with 54 hits.
Ashton White boasts a .362 batting average with 47 total hits and leads the Black Knights in RBIs with 31.
On the mound, Amanda Eaglin has been a standout for Army, tallying three wins this season while maintaining a 3.95 ERA and earning the most starts for the team.
Breanna Izzo, doubling as a pitcher, also boasts three wins and leads the team in total strikeouts with 46.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Lehigh currently shares the top spot in the Patriot League softball standings with Boston University, boasting an unblemished 12-0 record.
Freshman Peyton Sward stands out as a powerhouse for the Mountain Hawks, maintaining an impressive .416 batting average. This batting average leads the Patriot League.Â
The lineup of Lehigh features a dangerous group of hitters, with six Mountain Hawks tallying 20 or more RBIs. Emily Cimino leads the charge with 29 RBIs.
Throughout the season, Lehigh has utilized the talents of five different pitchers. Among them, Katelyn Young has been the most active, appearing in 28 games and starting 21. Currently sporting a 2.83 ERA, she has racked up an impressive 123 strikeouts and leads the team in wins with 15.
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