The first half of Saturday’s doubleheader brought back memories of the Tigers’ spring break woes. Princeton squandered two early leads and found itself down by one in the bottom of the sixth inning. Unlike many of last week’s games, however, the Tigers rebounded, as sophomore rightfielder Kelsey Quist reached base on an infield single, putting the tying run on board. Two batters later, sophomore first baseman Jamie Lettire came through with a decisive two-run home run, putting the Tigers ahead for good, 4-3.
In the second game, the Tigers lived by the long ball. An early Quist home run gave Princeton a two-run lead from which it would not look back. Junior shortstop Kathryn Welch added a home run of her own, the first of two on the afternoon, as the Tigers cruised to an 8-2 win.
Saturday’s victories were a function of solid starting pitching and offensive production from the middle of the lineup. In the first, senior ace Kristen Schaus notched seven strikeouts in a complete-game effort, allowing only two earned runs. Freshman starting pitcher Michelle Tolfa surrendered two runs over four innings, taking the win in the second. Schaus picked up her first save of the season, closing out the second game with three scoreless innings.
The three-four-five combination of Welch, Quist and Lettire proved to be the strength of the Tiger lineup. All three blasted two home runs apiece over the two games and accounted for 11 of the team’s 12 RBI on the afternoon. Head coach Trina Salcido raved about the middle of her lineup.
“[The] three-four-five combination work really well together and are all go-to hitters,” Salcido said.
Sunday’s wins exhibited similar timely hitting and effective pitching. In the first game, the Tigers built an early lead behind a four-run third inning, featuring another Welch home run and a three-run blast from sophomore second baseman Colette Abbott.
Schaus and Tolfa shared the work, surrendering two earned runs apiece. Tolfa relieved Schaus in the top of the fourth inning and retired the next 10 batters she faced, bringing the Tigers to within one out of victory. In the top of the seventh, with two down, the wheels almost fell off. Tolfa gave up a walk and three consecutive singles, letting the Crimson get back into the ballgame. After an error, the Crimson had two runners in scoring position, and the Tigers’ lead was in jeopardy. Tolfa, however, was up to the challenge and closed out the game for her third win of the season.
The second half of the doublehxeader also began with an early Tiger advantage. On the strength of back-to-back doubles from Welch and Quist, Princeton took a 1-0 lead in the first. The story of the second game, however, was the dominance shown by Lettire in a relief appearance and Quist’s timely hitting. Tolfa gave up two runs on three hits in the second. Lettire came in for the top of the third and, after surrendering a double, retired the next seven batters she faced. A single in the fifth inning was the last Harvard batter Lettire allowed to reach base, emphatically striking out the side in the last frame.
Salcido aptly depicted the afternoon as Lettire’s “coming-out day,” emphasizing that Lettire was beginning to show her potential and praising her reliever’s “maturity and leadership.”
Salcido was also quick to praise three-RBI star Quist, whose two-run double in the fifth inning was the turning point of the game. With runners on first and second and two outs, it was clear that the Tigers needed to capitalize, as the bottom of the lineup was slated to bat in the final two innings. But as the sophomore walked up to the plate, she was hardly nervous.
“I just wanted to hit this girl,” Quist said. “I just turned the brain off and had fun.” She pounded a line-drive double to left-centerfield that scored Welch and freshman third baseman Megan Weidrick.
Salcido praised Quist’s hitting ability, noting that the right fielder “is always a spark” in the lineup.
The Tigers continue Ivy play this weekend with doubleheaders at Yale and Brown.
Read More
Women’s ice hockey names Courtney Kessel as new head coach
Lily PampolinaFollowing the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Following the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Former women’s basketball forward Parker Hill ’25 signs professional contract in Switzerland
Doug SchwartzAfter a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
After a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.