Softball: Princeton drops three at home

The softball team played two doubleheaders this weekend at Class of 1895 Field, taking on Rutgers on Saturday afternoon and Lafayette on Sunday. Princeton (6-15) dropped both games against the Scarlet Knights (12-15), falling 9-4 in the first and 4-3 in nine innings in the second. On Sunday, the Tigers lost 14-4 to Lafayette (8-9) before the second game of the team’s doubleheader was canceled due to rain.

In the first game on Saturday, the Scarlet Knights jumped out to an 8-1 lead against the Tigers. Princeton mounted a small rally but was unable to come back from its early deficit and fell 9-4.

All four of the Tigers’ runs in their first game on Saturday came off of home runs. Freshman catcher Sarah Rounsifer led the Tiger offense, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs. The homers were the first of Rounsifer’s career. Sophomore outfielder and lead-off hitter Nicole Ontiveros scored Princeton’s final run in the fifth inning with a home run of her own.

The three home runs were not enough, however, to overcome Rutgers’ steady offensive performance. The Scarlet Knights scored four runs in the second inning, one in the third, one in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the seventh. Rutgers outhit the Tigers 10-6 in the game.

The second game on Saturday started out as a much more low-scoring affair. The Tigers outhit Rutgers 10-6 in the game but were unable to capitalize on this offensive productivity.

Princeton jumped out to an early lead thanks to senior outfielder Kelsey Quist’s first-inning RBI single. The Tigers’ defense kept Rutgers off of the scoreboard until the third inning, when the Scarlet Knights scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead. After the teams exchanged runs in the fifth, the Tigers tied the score in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. After a scoreless eighth frame, Rutgers' Mandy Craig scored on a two-out RBI double to give her team a 4-3 win. Senior pitcher Jamie Lettire threw a complete game and struck out three in the loss.

In Sunday’s doubleheader, Princeton matched up against Patriot League foe Lafayette.

Lafayette scored five runs in the first three innings to jump out to an early lead. In the sixth inning, the Leopards scored nine more to take a commanding 14-0 lead. Princeton was able to answer in the sixth inning with four runs. Rounsifer contributed a two-RBI double for Princeton. This four-run inning was not enough, however, and the game ended early due to the run rule, which stops the game if one team is ahead by at least eight runs after five innings.

The second game was rained out, denying Princeton the opportunity for a second chance against Lafayette.

The Tigers play Lehigh this Wednesday before beginning Ivy League play next weekend with doubleheaders against Harvard on Saturday and Dartmouth on Sunday.