Pitching propels Tigers

It was a perfect day for softball, and the Tigers were nearly perfect to match. On one of the first truly springlike days of the year, the softball team took the field in their 2006 home opener against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights yesterday afternoon at Class of 1895 Field.

The Tigers proved dominant on both sides of the ball, jumping out to early leads in both games and holding on for a pair of wins.

Senior ace pitcher Erin Snyder led the way both offensively and defensively, allowing only four hits with 10 strike outs in the first game shutout that Princeton won 2-0. Snyder also knocked in one of the two Princeton runs.

Sophomore righthander Kristen Schaus shut the door in the second game, giving up only two runs on six hits to extend the winning streak to three with a 9-2 victory.

The good weather also brought the Princeton fans out of their winter hibernation to "sun" and cheer on the Tigers. Also among the fans was former Princeton University Dean of Admission Fred Hargadon, who commented that he loves to watch the softball team because the program is one of the "best coached" at the University.

It was early action that determined the first game. The Tigers came out strong in the first inning, playing small ball to plate the only two runs of the game. Senior shortstop Christina Cobb-Adams started it off by singling to left-center but was then forced out at second on a fielder's choice by junior centerfielder Stephanie Steel. After freshman leftfielder Kathryn Welch, who came into the game as the Ivy League Rookie-of-the-Week honoree, drew a walk, a pair of singles by Snyder and senior first baseman Amanda Erickson drove in Steel and Welch for the two Princeton runs.

Snyder, coming in to replace junior pitcher Calli Jo Varner during the first batter, was sharp, as always. Snyder retired the first six batters she faced, sending four back to the dugout herself.

The Scarlet Knights' only real offensive threat came in the top of the third when Rutgers got runners on second and third with consecutive well-hit singles to the outfield. But Snyder quickly sent the Knights back to the dugout by fanning the next batter on a 2-2 pitch.

The Tiger bats came alive in the second game of the doubleheader, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead on one run in the first, two in the second, and another in the third.

"It was really good to see the team come out swinging well in the second game," Barron said.

The offense started to rumble when freshman left fielder Kathryn Welch drew a walk with two outs and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Snyder, now playing first base, then ripped a single to right field to bring her home.

With one out in the second, the Tigers displayed quintessential softball, starting with a single down the third base line by freshman catcher Larkin Brogan. Freshman rightfielder Brianna Moreno then executed a slap that not only moved Brogan to second, but also earned her an infield hit when she beat out the throw. This set up first and second with one out for senior shortstop Christina Cobb Adams, who drilled a ball to the fence in right-center for a two RBI triple, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead, which they would add one to in the third.

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

But the Scarlet Knights would not be retired so quietly. In the top of the fourth inning, down 4-0, Rutgers' rightfielder Sarah Kalka connected with the first pitch and sent it over the leftfield wall. But, as only the third home run Schaus has given up all year, it proved to be just a fluke and the Knights only got a runner past first base on one other occasion. Schaus struck out the next batter to kill the threat.

But the Princeton bats weren't done yet. The Tigers rallied in the bottom of the fifth, tacking on five more runs. Sophomore second baseman Lauren Bierman, into the game for Motal – who left after getting hit – led off with a double to straightaway center. She advanced to third on a successful sacrifice bunt by sophomore first baseman Beth Dalmut.

An RBI single by Brogan scored Bierman. Then back-to-back doubles by Cobb-Adams and Steel drove in two more runs and set up the two-run home run by Welch over the left field wall, knocking Gillman out of the game.

The Tigers went down quietly after that, but the 9-2 score remained the same for the rest of the game.