Princeton softball looks for offensive spark this weekend

The objective in softball is simple: score more runs than the other team.

Princeton softball understands this point well. While the team has been successful thus far despite an inconsistent offensive attack, the Tigers know this could change at any moment.

That moment could come this weekend, when the Tigers face off against Columbia (11-9 overall, 0-0 Ivy League) in New York on Saturday and Cornell (13-9, 0-0) at home on Sunday. Both contests will be doubleheaders.

These will be four important Ivy League games for Princeton (13-13, 2-0), and a sweep this weekend would put a great deal of pressure on the rest of the league. Cornell, however, boasts one of the league's top offensive units and Columbia is a relatively new program that is on the rise.

Head coach Maureen Davies '97 has been trying various things to get the offense going on a consistent basis.

"We may try and change the lineup to get more runs across," Davies said.

Against Penn last weekend Princeton managed to get only six runs across in two games. However, the team has also had games where it has been able to get the offense going quickly, such as the game against Rutgers last week when the Tigers scored seven runs in the second inning.

Senior pitcher Brie Galicinao is leading the team in hitting with a .354 batting average. Sophomore infielder Kristin del Calvo and senior shortstop Kim Veenstra are right behind her, as del Calvo is hitting .352 and Veenstra stands in at .342. Each of the three players has driven in 17 runs on the year. After these three, no other starter is hitting above .300. To be successful, Princeton needs improved production from the rest of the lineup.

"I am a little disappointed in our offensive output, simply based on our potential," Davies said.

One of the reasons Princeton has been able to stay successful is its outstanding pitching. All four Princeton hurlers have an ERA under 3.00, with Galicinao leading the way at 2.30. Galicinao also boasts 66 strikeouts in only 73.0 innings of work.

Against Cornell, Davies will need all four pitchers to perform well to defeat the balanced Big Red lineup.

Princeton split two games with Cornell last season, as the Tigers won the first game of a double-header, 3-1, and dropped the second, 12-0.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

One of the things Davies has stressed to the team has been playing two solid games in a row. If Princeton hopes to jump out in the standings over Cornell — the defending Ivy champs — it will have to do just that.

Against Columbia, the Tigers should be expecting nothing less than two wins. Davies knows, however, that Princeton cannot take the Lions lightly, and has warned her team of such.

"Columbia has improved a lot this year," Davies said. "They have been playing very well."

A loss to Columbia would put pressure on the team to perform even better against Cornell to stay ahead in the Ivy race.

Princeton shut out the Lions in two games last year, winning 4-0 and 7-0. Galicinao and sophomore pitcher Bingham both recorded complete game shutouts.

Four wins this weekend would put Princeton in the driver's seat of the Ivy League. To get to that point, the Tigers know their main obstacle is consistent offense.

"We have to do whatever it takes to get runs across," Davies said.