Softball swept by Lehigh

Perfection in softball is something that rarely happens. Perfect games, no-hitters and one-hitters are considered freak occurrences, even in a sport where failing 70 percent of the time at the plate can earn enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. But the Lehigh softball team nearly pulled off a double dose of perfection, as the Engineers pitching staff held Penn to just two hits during Wednesday's doubleheader in Bethlehem. In the first game of the twin bill, the entire Quakers offense came from the bat of sophomore Kara Lecker. While the rest of the team suffered through a collective oh-fer, Lecker went 2-for-2 at the plate. But without anyone before or after her able to get a hit, Lecker's singles went for naught, and Lehigh won 8-0. Penn's hitting woes got worse, believe it or not, in the second game, as the Quakers got no-hit. Vicki Moore's walk kept the Engineers from getting the perfect game. Lehigh won that game by the same 8-0 score. While the Lehigh staff toyed with perfection, the Penn hurlers struggled to keep the ball in the infield. Moore, senior Dawn Kulp and freshman Jen Strawley allowed two doubles and three triples in the doubleheader. Moore went the distance in the first game. But the Engineers lit her up for 12 hits in 26 at-bats. Moore has been an on-again, off-again pitcher this season. She was handed the ace's spot in the rotation and has the ability to dominate a game, as evidenced by her one-hit shutout versus Holy Cross March 7. But Moore lacks the consistency one normally wants in an ace. The Quakers will need Moore to be more of a steady performer on a day-to-day basis if they are to pose any threat in the Ivy League. In the second game, Kulp got the call. In four innings of work, Kulp gave up 5 runs, of which only 3 were earned, off 8 hits. Strawley came in to mop up, pitching the fifth and final inning. The freshman struggled, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits. She also walked two. "[She's] learning all about college softball," Penn coach Linda Carothers said. The only sign of encouragement on the visitors' bench was the relatively strong fielding performance. The Quakers, who were averaging approximately four errors per game going into the doubleheader, committed only 3 in the two games. Sophomore Laurie Nestler, a natural outfielder, appears to be adjusting to her new position as the starting shortstop. Nestler was averaging an error per game heading into the Lehigh contests. But she played like a veteran infielder Wednesday, accounting for 4 put-outs and 5 assists. Nestler also turned 2 double plays. But on an afternoon when Lehigh flirted with perfection, solid fielding just was not enough.