The first female student-athlete to be elected to the University of Lowell[apos]s Athletic Hall of Fame, Susan Gehm was voted into the Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility. Maybe the finest female athlete to ever participate for the Chiefs, Susan was a standout two-sport athlete starring as a field hockey midfielder (link) and softball pitcher.
Susan helped lead the field hockey team to its only NCAA tournament berth in 1982. She led her team in scoring as a senior (1983) with 17 points on eight goals and nine assists while serving as a tri-captain. She currently shares the school record for most goals in a game (4). During her four-year career, Susan scored nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points.
A four-year letter winner playing for coach Carol Mastacouris, Susan played defense her first two seasons. Moved to link as a junior, she netted one goal and eight assists. She started her senior season at link, then was moved to a forward spot due to two key injuries and led the team in scoring.
During her four years as the ace of the softball team[apos]s pitching staff, Susan set numerous records and still holds eight school records including most career strikeouts (198) and lowest era for a season (0.62). She ranks second in appearances (72), innings pitched (447.2), games started (60), complete games (57), wins (39), walks (157), and earned run average (1.02). Susan is first in strikeouts and fourth in winning percentage (.639/39-22).
As a freshman, Susan compiled a 4-4 record with a 1.14 era. She improved on those numbers as a sophomore with an 8-4 record and a 1.26 era. Nearly unhittable as a junior, she rung up a 13-4 record with two saves and a 0.62 era. Carrying the load as a senior (168 of a possible 195.1 innings), she was 14-10 with one save and a 1.13 era.
She threw two no-hitters during her career and was an All-New England selection as a senior. The hard throwing righthander was 12th in the nation in era as a junior. As a co-captain her last two years, Susan led the Chiefs to the E.A.I.A.W. tournament in 1983 and the ECAC tournament in 1984. In the E.A.I.A.W. tourney, the Chiefs came out of the losers bracket to win the double elimination tournament with Susan pitching three games on the final day.
Susan was named the Lester H. Cushing Award winner in 1984 as the outstanding female athlete for the 1983-84 school year. She was named to the newly formed New England Collegiate Conference[apos]s second all-star team as a junior and first team as a senior.
