Ivy title run begins with eight wins

“We had a really tough spring break,” junior shortstop and co-captain Kathryn Welch said. “[But] looking at it now, it was definitely good for us, and it made us a better team.”

Whatever it this spark may be, the Tigers (11-17 overall, 8-0 Ivy League) channeled it this weekend in four league victories on the road against Yale (12-14, 2-4) and Brown (5-14, 0-8). Princeton has kicked off its league schedule with an 8-0 start seven times before this year, and each time it has led to an Ivy League championship. The Tigers are the only undefeated team in the conference.

“Our team is thrilled right now,” Welch said. “We know we can win, so our confidence is up.”

Princeton defeated Yale 8-1 and 5-2 in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. In the first game, the Tigers hit three home runs. Princeton jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the third after sophomore outfielder Kelsey Quist notched her seventh homer of the season, a three-run shot. Welch also recorded a home run, and sophomore first baseman Jamie Lettire hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to seal the win for Princeton.

The Tigers recorded nine hits while holding the Bulldogs to just three. Senior pitcher Kristen Schaus struck out six in four innings, and freshman Michelle Tolfa finished the game, allowing just one Bulldog to reach base.

In the second game, freshman third baseman Megan Weidrick hit the team’s fourth home run of the day. After the Tigers got off to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Princeton had back-to-back two-run innings in the fourth and fifth. In this matchup, Tolfa pitched the first six innings while Lettire recorded the save.

“Our hitters did a great job of adjusting to the pitcher,” Welch said. “We played with confidence. … We were really sharp on defense and it all really came together.”

Against Brown, the Tigers recorded their first shutout of the season, dominating the Bears 7-0 in the first game Sunday. Princeton outhit Brown 10-4, and four different players notched two hits apiece. Lettire ignited the offense with a homer in the top of the second, while the defense combined to prevent a Brown player from passing second base.

In Sunday’s second game, the Tigers defeated the Bears 5-3. At the end of the fourth inning, Princeton was down 3-1 and facing its first deficit of the weekend. The Tigers responded with runs in the fifth and sixth innings, tying the game going into the seventh. With two outs and junior outfielder Brianna Moreno on base, Quist doubled down the rightfield line to send Moreno home and put Princeton ahead.

“We just acknowledged the fact that we needed to score right now, and we did,” Welch said.

The Tigers scored once more and maintained solid defense to hold the Bears in their final at-bat at the bottom of the seventh and take home the win.

Princeton will take a quick break from its Ivy season to face Rutgers in a doubleheader at home Wednesday before travelling to Columbia this weekend.

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“Midweek games are really tough,” Welch said. “It’s hard to focus, … [but] we’re going to work as hard as we would every day.”

This weekend, the Tigers play a four-game series against the Lions to open South Division play. Though they have soundly defeated all four North Division opponents, this is when the wins count the most, and Welch affirmed the team’s ability to maintain momentum.

“These games matter even more than the games we’ve played thus far,” Welch said. “We’re on a roll, and we’re confident.”