The Brown & White

The softball team is set to take on the Lafayette College Leopards this weekend with doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday.

Lehigh is coming off a six-game winning streak consisting of a four-game sweep of league opponent Army and two victories over the University of Pennsylvania.

The team is looking forward to the big games coming up this weekend.

The Mountain Hawks are currently 23-4 on the season, and 4-0 in league play.

The Leopards are ranked second in the league at 2-0, with a 9-12 record on the season.

Sophomore pitcher Tiffany Curtis said she feels the winning streak will help the team in its upcoming games.

"It was nice to be able to start off with a sweep over Army and these wins will give us momentum into the upcoming week of Lafayette," she said.

Lehigh is lead by junior pitcher/infielder Lisa Sweeney who has a batting average of .440 and has played in every game.

Sweeney is 12-1 on the mound, with an ERA under 1.00. She said she is looking forward to competing against arch rival Lafayette this weekend.

"We felt good about this past weekend against Army, but certainly look to improve and have an even better weekend against Lafayette," She said. "Every Lehigh team wants to beat Lafayette, and we are no exception."

Curtis said the rivalry will certainly be a factor in the intensity this weekend.

"There isn't really anything special I look forward to in the games verse Lafayette except taking a sweep with them too, because who doesn't love beating Lafayette?" Curtis said. "It doesn't matter what sport you are, everyone loves hearing Lehigh beat Lafayette."

Lafayette is led by freshman shortstop and first baseman Kerry Griffin who holds a batting average of .390, and sophomore pitcher/utility player Kasey Karr who posts an average of .281.

In 2007, the Hawks were victorious in all four games with scores of 17-1, 9-0, 10-1 and 5-2.

Lehigh also went 4-0 against the Leopards in the 2006 season.

The Hawks hope to continue the sweep this year and are confident in the team's ability to pull out four victories this weekend.

Lafayette is also coming off a two-game winning streak, but Curtis said the Hawks feel prepared to take on the Leopards.

Curtis cites the squad's tough schedule as a factor for its progression.

"Our team is improving more and more with each game we play," she said. "Our tough mid-week competition is what really makes us become a better team and allows us to be even more prepared for our Patriot League games."

Sweeney said she has noticed the great season Curtis has had so far as Lehigh's starting pitcher.

"Tiffany had an incredible week last week," she said. "She was pitcher of the week for the Patriot League. She's a poised, confident and talented player. She works hard and has pitched consistently for us all year."

This is the second time Curtis received this honor in her young career. She won the award after victories in all three of her starts last week.

Freshman third baseman Alex Cueva was also honored last week, earning the league's player of the week award.

Cueva went 10-for-18 at the plate in the team's wins over Penn and Army. Cueva had two home runs in one game against Penn, the first of her career.

Curtis said she is confident in her team's abilities.

She said she feels that the best strategy is to play the same game against all opponents.

"The only strategy we know is 'focus on us,'" she said.

Sweeney expressed similar sentiments.

"Our game play is to play the best we can no matter who our opponent is," she said.

After its Lafayette match-ups, Lehigh will have to face league opponents Bucknell University, Holy Cross College and Colgate University before the Patriot League tournament in early May.

This weekend's doubleheaders are set for 12 and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. They will all be played at the Metzgar Fields in Easton.