Tigers drop 12 on break

The softball team (9-16 overall) was busy over break, with 16 games over the past 10 days in Tampa, Gainesville and DeLand, Fla. The Tigers faced 10 different teams during the USF Speedline Invitational (March 16-22) and the Stetson Invitational (March 23-25). Though Princeton saw a lot of field time, it faced a number of challenges and struggled throughout the week, finishing with a 4-12 record.

"We have a young team, so it was important for all of us to be out on the field as much as possible, working out the kinks and bonding together as a team," junior pitcher Kristen Schaus said.

Princeton hit the ground running. In their first game of the week, facing Boston University, the Tigers had to fight from the start. Schaus held the Terriers without a hit through four and two-thirds innings when Boston finally found its bats. While Princeton outhit Boston 8-3, Shayne Lotitio's homer and her clutch centerfield dropper in the seventh, which scored a run despite a solid throw from senior outfielder Stephanie Steel, ended the game 3-2.

After such a narrow defeat, Princeton suffered a much more serious loss to Indiana University, 10-1, after only six innings when the nine-run rule came into effect.

"We stayed positive and won or lost as a team all week. I think it was a good bonding experience," sophomore infielder Kathryn Welch said.

Against Buffalo, freshman Jamie Lettire earned her first start of the season after relieving over the past few games. Princeton had no trouble at the plate, as the Tigers came out swinging and earned 10 hits over the course of the game. Sophomore outfielder Erin Miller and Welch both came out strong with two hits apiece. Princeton never lost the lead and capitalized on Buffalo's breakdown, using the Bulls' seven errors to its advantage and forcing Buffalo through three different pitchers.

Princeton's Sunday game against Long Island was a battle of the bats. Both teams came to the plate ready to play, but Princeton ultimately came away the victor, 7-5. The Tigers took the lead in the first inning and held it, refusing to let the Blackbirds find space to score where BU and Indiana had a few days earlier. Welch again came up big at the plate and was helped by teammates senior pitcher Calli Jo Varner and sophomore catcher Samantha O'Hara. Together, these three scored four of the team's nine runs, with O'Hara and Varner both hitting homers. Schaus again put up a strong performance on the mound, giving up only seven hits and walking only one Long Island player while playing the full seven innings.

Between Tuesday and Thursday, Princeton split double headers with both Stetson and South Florida. On Tuesday Princeton kept Stetson scoreless in its first game 2-0, but it lost the second 1-4. On Wednesday the Tigers were kept scoreless against South Florida, losing 5-0, though they managed to post a 3-1 win in the second matchup. Key contributors continued to keep the Tigers above water as Princeton showed strengths that will be useful throughout the season.

"It was a challenging week, and a lot of positive things came out of it, despite the fact that we did not leave with the record we were hoping for. We played games against UF and USF and some other teams really well," Welch said.

Welch was again strong at the plate, and Schaus continually fought from the mound, but after its 3-1 win over South Florida on Wednesday, Princeton didn't see the upside of the scoreboard for the rest of the week.

In the conclusion of the Speedline, Florida swept Princeton in two games, incurring the nine-run rule in the second after only five innings. Back in DeLand, at the Stetson Invitational that concluded the Tigers' week, Princeton opened with a 6-0 loss to Kent State and struggled through the next four games, suffering back to back losses to Lipscomb on Wednesday and Thursday and falling to Stetson and Kent State for the second time each in the week on Saturday and Sunday.

While there were obvious holes and definite areas for improvement, the Tigers saw a number of strengths come through for them last week.

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

"We ended with a little bit of a losing streak, but in the end, it was important for us to really focus on the positives of all the games and the entire week and use it to prepare us for conference play," Schaus said.