Galicinao, White spear softball sweep of Temple

The softball team was getting anxious. Eight games had already been canceled due to rain this season. Princeton was looking forward to hosting its annual Princeton Invitational Tournament last weekend. But once again, the Tigers' hopes were crushed when the weather caused yet another cancellation.

Yesterday, however, the weather stopped interfering and Princeton (7-6) was finally able to step on to the field and play some softball.

In a doubleheader and near-shutout against Temple at Class of 1895 Field, the Tigers recorded a pair of solid victories, topping the Owls, 8-0, in the first game and, 5-1, in the second.

"It was amazing," head coach Maureen Davies '97 said. "We couldn't ask for a nicer day."

Temple (17-18) entered the game riding high on a seven game winning streak, but it did not take long for Princeton to squash it.

In what was their first home game of the season, the Tigers took the field dominated the first game, which barely lasted six innings. Princeton's eight run lead mandated an early finish.

Backed by solid and consistent hitting, junior pitcher Brianne Galicinao allowed only two hits and kept the Owls from scoring with seven strikeouts. The victory gave Galicinao her third win of the season.

Junior second base Sarah Jane White went 2-for-2 at the plate, driving in two RBI and scoring one run. Senior outfielder Lori Volker contributed to the hitting spree with a triple hit deep into center field that brought White home.

While senior catcher Devon Keefe and freshman first base Kritsen Del Calvo each registered two hits and two runs, sophomore outfielder Jen Neil led the RBI count with three.

The Owls tried to make a comeback in the second game, but it didn't last against a fired-up Princeton lineup. Temple took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning but, like its winning streak, that too disappeared. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers managed to connect and turn their one-run deficit into a four-run lead.

Senior catcher Vicky Siesta drove in the final run of the day when her triple became a homerun as a Temple infielder overthrew the catcher.

"It was nice to see the girls hit really well today," Davies said. "Our bats really came through."

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In the second round of action, White took over the mound for Galicinao, who was moved to first base. White threw three strike outs and allowed six hits.

"Brie pitched an excellent first game," Davies said. "Sarah threw well in the second and hung in there until our hitters came through."

Princeton is looking to repeat yesterday's success this weekend in its Ivy League opener. The Tigers will begin league play Saturday when they take on Harvard at 1 p.m. at Class of 1895 Field. Sunday Princeton will take on Dartmouth at home.

"This weekend is really big for us not only because it's the Ivy opener but because we use every game to work on getting better," Davies said. "We're just going to go out there and play our best. They should be some great games."