It's good to be home.
After opening the season with a dozen consecutive road games, softball returned to the friendly confines of Class of 1895 Field on Thursday afternoon to host Monmouth (4-11). Princeton (4-9 overall, 0-0 Ivy League) earned a much-needed victory, easily defeating the Hawks, 4-2.
The Tigers attacked early. In the second inning, with the bases loaded and one out, junior centerfielder Wendy Bingham beat out an infield single to get Princeton on the board. Sophomore pitcher Melissa Finley then walked, the Tigers' third free pass in the inning. A sacrifice fly by sophomore catcher Ty Ries pushed the lead to 3-0.
The lead stretched to 4-0 in the third. Junior first baseman Kristin Del Calvo led off with a one-hop double to the right field wall. After a well-timed sacrifice play, a bloop single by sophomore second baseman Kristin Leuke drove in Del Calvo.
Through the first six innings, it was all smooth sailing for Princeton. After struggling early in the season, Finley was much improved, retiring 14 consecutive batters at one point.
"She looked more like herself," head coach Maureen Barron '97 said. "Her timing was better and her spins were nice and tight."
The Hawks didn't go down without a fight, though. Three hits and a costly error by the Tigers led to two runs. With two outs, Monmouth's number three hitter stepped to the plate, representing the go-ahead run. She popped out on the first pitch, however, and the Tigers escaped.
Although yesterday was its home opener, Princeton had already had the chance to play two games in scenic New Jersey before yesterday's victory. Tuesday afternoon, the Tigers journeyed to Rutgers (12-7) for a doubleheader. Despite the conveniently short bus ride, the team narrowly dropped both games, falling 5-4 and 3-2.
While the spring break losses to top southern teams such as Florida State — ranked No. 17 in the country — did not come as a shock, the Tigers expected to defeat the Scarlet Knights during their annual meeting.
The Tigers struck first in game one Tuesday, taking the lead in the top of the first on Finley's two-out double, her team-leading eighth RBI.
Rutgers knotted the score in the fourth, but the Tigers pulled ahead, 4-1, in the fifth. After a passed ball put two runners in scoring position, Leuke brought both home with a two-strike double. She would later score after two errors.
Although freshman Erin Snyder pitched well, scattering five hits over six innings, she couldn't make the lead hold up. Rutgers exploded for four runs in the sixth, including a three-run home run.
In the second game of the twin bill, Rutgers quickly jumped ahead with two unearned runs in the first. Princeton struggled at the plate throughout the game, as Scarlet Knight pitcher Brielle Cosentino whiffed 10 Tigers. She would have had a shutout if not for two unearned runs in the fourth, which allowed Princeton to even the game.
Rutgers cleanup hitter Nikki Childress broke the tie with an RBI single up the middle in the fifth. When the Tigers couldn't rally back, Bingham took the loss despite a strong performance on the mound.
The Tigers return to I-95 South this weekend en route to the George Mason Invitational. In the round-robin tournament, they will face the homestanding Patriots (11-9), as well as Norfolk St. (4-8) and Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-8).
Synder, Bingham and Finley will most likely each take the mound once for Princeton. Meanwhile, coach Barron will continue to shuffle the rest of the lineup.
"We'll keep juggling it until we find one that clicks," she said.
While the competition this weekend will not be as imposing as that on the last trip South, the Tigers must keep their focus to avoid a repeat of the Rutgers games.
On the road back to the positive side of .500, there are no easy games, only hard fought victories.
"Wins are a byproduct of the way we play," Barron said. "The wins will come if we play well."
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