AMHERST, Mass. -- The softball team (25-24 overall, 20-2 Ivy League) found only five victories outside of the conference this season, and it failed to find any more this weekend as the Tigers dropped two games and ended their season at the NCAA softball regional in Amherst, Mass.
Princeton lost its first game to host No. 20 University of Massachusetts in a 6-0 decision, and Lehigh defeated the Tigers 7-4 in the second game of the double-elimination tournament to end their season.
Friday’s nasty weather put a wrench in the tournament schedule, but Princeton began its game against UMass despite the afternoon drizzle.
This faceoff shaped up to be the battle of ace pitchers. UMass brought out the big guns with junior pitcher Brandice Balschimiter, an eight-time Atlantic-10 Pitcher of the Week who leads the nation with a 0.53 ERA. The Tigers started senior Ivy League Pitcher of the Year, Kristen Schaus, who is a four-time All-Ivy honoree.
In the top of the first, junior outfielder Brianna Moreno reached first on an error by the UMass third baseman, but she was left on base after junior shortstop Kathryn Welch grounded out and Balschmiter struck out sophomore first baseman Jamie Lettire. The rain, however, was relentless, and the umpires called the game in the bottom of the first inning.
The game resumed on a much sunnier Saturday morning, but the Tigers failed to channel that sunshine into positive energy.
“In hindsight, we definitely didn’t come out as sharp [Saturday] as I think we felt [Friday],” Schaus said.
Schaus began the game with a strikeout, but UMass quickly responded to dampen Princeton’s spirits. With a runner on first from the day before, UMass’s Whitney Mollica hit a two-run homer just past freshman centerfielder Brittney Scott’s outstretched glove.
The Minutewomen built on their lead in the third, recording a run on two hits for a 3-0 lead.
UMass’ decisive rally came in the fifth inning due to solid hitting and several Princeton miscommunications. Carly Normandin sparked the momentum as her fly ball dropped in between Moreno, who called the ball, and Scott, who ran to her assistance. Another single sent Normandin home, and Lauren Proctor’s fly ball turned into an RBI triple as Scott and sophomore outfielder Kelsey Quist collided in rightfield. Mollica hit a sacrifice fly to send Proctor home and put UMass up 6-0.
Sophomore second baseman Collette Abbott recorded the Tigers’ first and only hit in the top of the seventh, but this proved to be too little, too late.
Though Princeton’s offense failed to threaten, the defense remained relatively solid. The Tigers ended the game with no errors, not taking into account the costly miscommunications in the outfield.
“We knew our performance in the first game wasn’t indicative of how we are as a team and what we’re capable of,” Schaus said. “So we came out in the second game trying to find that again — what we’re capable of.”
The team seemed to have regained its confidence against Lehigh. In the bottom of the first inning, Quist sparked the offense with her 14th home run of the season, sending Welch home before her and giving Princeton a 2-0 cushion.
Lehigh responded with a quiet second inning and an explosive third. With Lettire at the mound, three players hit consecutive doubles with one runner on base to take the lead. The Mountain Hawks built on that tally with a two-run homer, bringing the score to 6-2.
At the bottom of the third, junior first baseman Erin Miller hit her first homer of the season off a full count — celebrating with a joyful leap on her run between first and second base — but the rest of the team failed to build on the attempted comeback.
Lehigh sent another home in the fifth, and Princeton responded with a run in the sixth. The game ended with a dramatic attempted triple from Welch, who was called out as she slid headfirst into third base. The Mountain Hawks took the victory, 7-4.
The Tigers began the spring 3-17 but ended as Ivy League champions. After all was said and done, the team managed to put a positive spin on its up-and-down season.
“It was definitely a pretty tumultuous season,” Schaus said. “But I’m really proud of myself and everyone for just sticking it out and getting through it and making the most of it.”
Head coach Trina Salcido, who just ended her first season as Princeton’s head coach, echoed the senior’s sentiments.
“We’ve set the tone for how we want to grow and move forward,” Salcido said. “Getting here was phenomenal. As a team, what a great effort.”
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