Sometimes the keys to success come from unexpected places. This was the case for the Tiger softball team on Tuesday, as it swept St. Joseph's on the road, 8-7 and 2-0.
Sophomore second base Lindsay Motal, who was batting only .133 on the season coming in, broke out to go four-for-six on the day, including her first two home runs of the season.
Freshman Amelia Runyan, who made only her fifth start this year, gave a dominating performance in the second game of the twin bill. She scattered three hits in a complete game shutout.
This doubleheader also saw Princeton (22-19 overall, 6-6 Ivy League) break out of its recent offensive slump to provide the necessary run support for its pitching. During a four-game losing streak prior to Tuesday, which eliminated the Tigers from contention for the Ivy League title, Princeton only managed three runs.
Against St. Joseph's (15-23), however, the bats came alive, and the ball flew out of the park faster than Vin Diesel in a cinematic street race. In addition to Motal's two dingers, sophomore designated hitter Erin Snyder hit her second of the season, and senior first base Kristin Del Calvo hit her third and fourth of the season.
Del Calvo now stands at 21 home runs for her Princeton career, just one short of tying the school record.
In the first game the Tigers took an early 5-0 lead on Del Calvo's two-run homers in the first and third innings. The other run came when sophomore shortstop Cristina Cobb-Adams singled to score junior center fielder Melissa Finley in the third. Cobb-Adams later scored on Del Calvo's second homer of the game.
In the bottom of the third, however, the Hawks replied, scoring five runs of their own off freshman pitcher Calli Varner. The major damage came on a three-run double by third base Rachel Pawlikowski.
In the fourth inning, the Tigers again took the lead, when junior catcher Ty Ries doubled and was driven in on Motal's first homer.
But the Hawks tied it in the bottom of that inning, driving Varner from the game. Finley relieved her to pitch three scoreless innings for the win, improving to 6-7 on the year.
The Tigers regained the lead for good in the top of the fifth, thanks to Snyder's solo home run, and did not surrender it.
Seven Tigers had hits, led by Cobb-Adams, who had three and an RBI.
The second game saw Runyan dismantle the Hawks' offense in the first complete game of her career in the 2-0 win, improving her record to 3-1 on the season.
Game two also saw the Tigers' offensive surge continue, as they managed nine hits. However, they only managed two runs, leaving six on base.
Princeton first scored in the top of the third, when Del Calvo recorded her fifth RBI of the doubleheader by doubling in Cobb-Adams.
The Tigers added an insurance run in the seventh on Motal's second homer.
Princeton had 21 hits in the two games.
The Tigers will continue the road trip today with a doubleheader at Villanova, hoping to continue their success, despite being out of the hunt for the Ivy title.
The Wildcats currently stand at 27-18 and are coming off a home sweep of Syracuse in a doubleheader.
Villanova has a dynamic pitching duo in juniors Shannon Williams and Kristen Haynes.
Williams, the ace of the staff, is 17-10 with a solid 1.51 earned-run average. Haynes is 10-8 this season with a 1.72 ERA. These two have combined to start every game for the Wildcats this season.
Villanova also has a potent offense, with six players batting above .250.
Senior outfielder Robin Flier leads the team with a .358 average and is third with 18 RBIs.
Junior first base Kari Koller is the Wildcats' main power threat; she leads the team with six homers, eight doubles, and 22 RBIs. She is also second on the team with a .319 batting average.
Senior infielder Ricci Lugo, who hits leadoff for Villanova, is tops on the team with six stolen bases in seven attempts and is hitting .283.
The Wildcats will present a tough challenge for Princeton. If the trend from Tuesday's doubleheader continues, perhaps the Tigers can expect help from unexpected sources.
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