Softball: Tigers fall out of the running for league title

The loss could not have come at a worse time for Princeton (14-18 overall, 8-8 Ivy League). Before this weekend’s four-game set against the Quakers (12-25-1, 7-9), the Tigers still had a chance to defend their Ivy League title. Princeton dropped three of four games, falling five games behind division leader Cornell and ending its shot at a repeat.

“We struggled to be consistent,” head coach Trina Salcido said. “Once you get there, once you feel that [sense of urgency] … you want to consistently hold onto that level of play. Last year, we peaked, and then we held it, which is extremely hard to do.”

Despite not throwing particularly fast, Lupardus has maintained an ERA of less than 2.00 for the season while compiling 72 strikeouts. In the Tigers’ first matchup with Penn, Lupardus twirled a 2-0 shutout.

The defining inning for Princeton may have been the fifth, in which sophomore infielder Kristin Arguedas, freshman designated player Kelsey VandeBergh and senior outfielder Erin Miller all popped up. Lupardas’ offspeed pitches had the Tigers swinging for the fences, but Princeton players consistently got underneath the ball. Lupardas induced an astonishing seven pop-up outs.

In fact, Princeton’s best scoring chance came in the first inning, when freshman outfielder Nicole Ontiveros rapped a leadoff single and reached second on a sacrifice. Lupardas, however, stepped up her game and struck out senior infielder Kathryn Welch and junior outfielder Kelsey Quist.

“We just didn’t make good adjustments,” Salcido said. “Sometimes we’ll face pitchers who throw 40 to 45 miles per hour. It’s an adjustment to be made.”

Senior pitcher Jamie Lettire played well, allowing two runs in six innings of work and absorbing the hard-luck loss. Penn’s only runs came from infielder Kelsey Wolfe and outfielder Sarah Patrick.

Quaker starter Emily Denstedt won her second game of the season in the bottom half of the doubleheader. Once again, the Tigers struggled to make solid contact with a pitcher whose arsenal was by no means overwhelming — in fact, Princeton’s batters did not strike out against Denstedt.

The Tigers’ timing, however, was slightly off. Rather than getting under the ball, the Orange and Black found itself grounding out quite often. The heart of Princeton’s lineup went hitless in six combined at-bats. Denstedt’s strategy of avoiding the Tigers’ power hitters — she walked Quist twice — proved effective, and Penn prevailed.

Junior infielder Collette Abbott collected two of Princeton’s three hits, with the other coming from sophomore catcher Megan Weidrick.

On Sunday, Quist hit a two-run homer to highlight the Tigers’ 9-5 victory in their third matchup against the Quakers. Lupardus’ pitching style was much less effective the second time around, as Princeton piled up nine hits and seven runs against her.

Quist opened the game with a bang, connecting on her sixth long ball of the season.

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Penn had built a 5-2 lead by the sixth inning thanks to two RBI efforts by Patrick and shortstop Jamie Boccanfuso, the team’s second-leading hitter, who boasts a .339 average.

In the sixth, however, the Quakers unraveled, as Boccanfuso committed two errors. The Tigers capitalized on the free hacks, with both Weidrick and Arguedas hitting RBI doubles. Princeton totaled five runs in the inning and scored two more in the seventh on singles from Weidrick and Miller. Lettire ceded five runs but walked away with her seventh win of the season.

In the final game of the series, Penn got the last laugh thanks to its own late rally. Sophomore starter Michelle Tolfa came into the sixth inning with a 6-3 lead but gave up seven runs to the Quakers. Princeton scored two runs in the top of the seventh but eventually fell 10-8.

Quist once again provided a home run for the highlight reels, smashing a three-run shot in the fifth inning. The Tigers opened the inning with three consecutive singles from senior outfielder Brianna Moreno, Ontiveros and Abbott. One batter later, Quist hit a three-run homer to score Ontiveros and Abbott. With the home run, Quist took the team lead in RBI and currently stands at 28 after adding one to her total later in the same game.

With the season winding to a close after Princeton’s four-game series against Cornell next weekend, the Tigers will have all the time in the world to work on their timing in the batting cages. Princeton did not repeat as champions, but it will return nine players next season and is bringing in six fresh faces. After failing to defend its title, the team may actually perform better in the underdog role.

“That sense of urgency is there because you have that sour taste in your mouth,” Salcido said.

Perhaps, then, 2010 will be the Tigers’ time to shine.