Softball splits home-opening double dip

Fresh off a California road trip over spring break, the softball team stood at a 7-8 record that included quality wins over top-ranked teams. On Wednesday, the Tigers played their home opener, a doubleheader against crosstown rival Rutgers at Class of 1895 Field.

The afternoon started poorly for the Tigers, as their offense sputtered in a 3-0 first-game loss. The Tigers rebounded, however, winning the second game in the bottom of the fifth inning, 5-4. The game was called after the fifth due to darkness.

The first game was scoreless until the top of the third, when Rutgers senior outfielder Nikki Childress hit a three-run homer off junior pitcher Melissa Finley.

The Tigers threatened but could not score against Scarlet Knights' pitcher Leah Black, stranding nine runners in the shutout loss.

In the second game, the offense came to life against Rutgers hurler Christina Gillman. After Rutgers scored a run on freshman pitcher Amelia Runyon in the top of the first, the Tigers immediately replied in the bottom of the inning.

Senior leftfielder Wendy Bingham hit a single with one out then stole second base. After Finley struck out, sophomore Erin Snyder hit a two-out double, driving in Bingham.

Rutgers, however, struck back with a one-out homer by junior outfielder Stephanie Johannsen, driving in two more runs.

Princeton responded in the bottom of the third when sophomore second baseman Lindsay Motal led off with a single. A sacrifice bunt two batters later by Bingham moved Motal to second, but left the Tigers with two outs. Finley then singled, moving Motal to third and bringing Snyder to the plate.

Again, Snyder came through in the clutch with her second two-out double, driving in her second and third runs of the game.

An error by sophomore shortstop Cristina Cobb-Adams let in an unearned Rutgers run in the fourth.

Princeton freshman Calli Varner relieved Runyon in the top of the fifth, striking out two in her only inning of work and earning her first win of the season.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers found themselves down, 4-3. But the inning started off auspiciously as Finley walked and subsequently stole second base. Snyder followed with a hit, putting two runners on for senior first baseman Kristin Del Calvo, who came through with a single, driving in the tying run.

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Rutgers then switched pitchers, bringing on Brielle Consentino, but to no avail. Freshman third baseman Tiffany Andras drew a walk, and junior catcher Ty Ries drove in the game-winning run with a single.