With Ivy games looming, softball blanks Rutgers

Junior Brie Galicinao (2-4) may just have been getting tired when she stepped to the plate for the softball team yesterday afternoon in the top of the 11th inning of a 0-0 game at Rutgers. After all, she had pitched 10 nearly flawless innings without allowing any runs or even permitting any Scarlet Knights to advance past second base.

With runners on second and third and none out, Galicinao decided that it was time to end the game — the first of a double-header — and ripped a double to left, scoring sophomore Jen Neil from third and senior Lori Volker from second.

Galicinao held on in the bottom of the 11th to earn her second win of the season and up the Tigers' record to 5-6.

The second game of the double header — which began at 5:40 p.m. — was called in the third inning because of darkness.

Despite the late-inning rally, Princeton struggled at the plate all game. Like Rutgers, the Tigers failed to advance any of their runners passed second during the first 10 innings. Finally, in the top of the 11th, Neil led off the inning with a single followed by a double by Volker, setting the stage for Galicinao's heroics.

In total, Galicinao gave up just five hits in her 11 innings of work and struck out 10 Scarlet Knight batters.

The Tigers are looking to improve their record this weekend when they host the Princeton Invitational. The tournament begins Saturday, when Princeton faces Maryland at 3 p.m. on 1895 Field. The Tigers will return Sunday to take on Marist in a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.

"We're really psyched to play this weekend," junior pitcher Brianne Galicinao said. "We want to get some more games under our belt before we start Ivy play. We're even more anxious to get things started, since both teams swept us last year."

At the Buzz Classic tournament in Georgia March 24, in their first matchup against the Terrapins (21-13-0 overall) this year, the Tigers fell, 1-0. With comparatively very little game experience so far this season, the Tigers entered the match disadvantaged. The game became a test of endurance for both teams. Though the Tigers failed to bring in any runs, Galicinao remained strong on the mound, pitching all nine innings.

"It was just a matter of who could score first," head coach Maureen Davies '97 said. "But we have a large, deep team with a solid defense. Playing Maryland again is definitely exciting for us."

Last season, Princeton went 2-1 against Maryland. In their second game of the season, the Tigers came back from a 4-0 deficit, but eventually lost to the Terrapins, 6-5. By the time they reached their final two games, however, the Tigers were a more experienced squad and were thus able to cap off the season with two consecutive wins over Maryland.

While they don't have all season to prepare for their second game with the Terrapins this time, Princeton is confident it can come out on top this time around.

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"The girls have a lot of talent and are able to come back when they're down," Davies said. "We always have great games with Maryland and if we play the way we've been playing so far, we're definitely capable of winning."

In order for the Tigers to record some wins this weekend they will need their batters to come through. This means not only getting hits, but bringing home the runners. Princeton can't afford to leave players on base like it did last week, especially since the Terrapins have been hitting well, registering six runs against and beating both UConn and Cleveland State — two teams that handed Princeton a pair of losses last week.

Unlike its relationship with Maryland, Princeton does not have a history with Marist. In fact, the Tigers haven't played the Red Foxes in the last two years. Currently, Marist holds a 6-11-1 overall record, including a 1-1 split in a doubleheader with Yale March 25. Though the Elis finished lower than Princeton last year, they are an improved team this year, so it remains difficult to draw conclusions from the split. ('Prince' senior writer Michael Hochman contributed to this article)