Home runs seal win for Princeton

Though the softball team's dream of a third-straight Ivy title was dashed last weekend, the Tigers had no intention of ending their season with a whimper. On Senior Day last Tuesday, Princeton (23-29 overall, 12-8 Ivy League) used solid hitting and exceptional pitching to sweep Rider (7-33) in its final games of the season.

The Tigers were led by their three seniors — tri-captain and pitcher Calli Jo Varner, tri-captain and centerfielder Stephanie Steel and rightfielder Betsy Allaway — who were honored in a ceremony before the game.

Pitching the first game, Varner rolled through the Broncs, giving up only three hits over six innings in her first shutout of the season. Varner matched that effort at the plate, going three for five on the day, including a double and a home run. Meanwhile, Steel got the offense rolling early with a run in the first inning of the opening game, which held up to be the game's winning run.

Allaway — who made her first start of the season after fighting a knee injury all year — played stellar defense in rightfield, making a highlight-reel catch while running into the fence during the second game. Allaway also added a hit in that game — her first of the year.

In the opening contest, Steel's first-inning run gave the Tigers an early lead, but Rider pitcher Laci Landrum made the Orange and Black work hard to build on its advantage. Princeton stayed quiet until the fourth when freshman designated player Jamie Lettire scored when freshman second baseman Collette Abbott reached base on a fielder's choice.

The Tigers padded their two-run lead in the sixth after speedy freshman leftfielder Ellen Scott singled to lead off the inning. After stealing second, Scott advanced to third on a ground out by sophomore shortstop Kathryn Welch. In the next at-bat, Scott beat the pitcher's throw home as Lettire reached first on a fielder's choice. Lettire followed Scott's lead on the basepaths and stole second, then scored two batters later on a double by Abbott.

The late-inning scoring provided a few insurance runs, but Varner's pitching gem made them unnecessary. Despite a pair of dangerous fly balls to the warning track, Varner kept Rider at bay for most of the game as not a single runner got past second base. Varner struck out eight over seven innings, while giving up just three hits and two walks in the Tigers' 4-0 win.

Junior pitcher Kris Schaus followed Varner with a strong showing in the second game. The Tigers' ace struck out 12 batters and allowed three hits in a workmanlike outing.

Rider's only run came in the sixth inning when a two-out double from centerfielder Tiffany Day-Neutill drove in second baseman Candice Harris.

Despite Schaus' dominant outing, the Tigers' hitting was the story of the day. After freshman leftfielder Kelsey Quist walked with one out in the first, Welch put Princeton on the board with a towering two-run homer to left-center. Two batters later, Varner followed with an opposite-field home run over the right field wall. The pair of round-trippers set the tone for a jovial season finale in which 13 Tigers saw the field.

In the next inning, Quist added to the power surge with a soaring home run over the left field fence, the freshman's fifth of the season.

Varner scored Princeton's final run in the third frame off an RBI single from sophomore catcher Sammy O'Hara. Despite being shut out over the final innings, the Tigers completed the sweep with the 5-1 victory.

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After an emotional talk with the players following the season's final game, head coach Maureen Barron '97 was happy with the team's performance.

"I think we had a great day," Barron said. "We had great pitching from both Calli [Varner] and Kris [Schaus] and we swung the bat really well, so I'm happy to see us end on a high note."

Though Barron may have to wait a year for her fifth Ivy title ring, Tuesday afternoon provided a satisfying conclusion to the 2007 campaign.