Softball: 3 victories highlight Maryland Tournament

The Tigers (7-9 overall) open their home season against Marist next Sunday, so the tournament functioned as a good barometer for the squad’s readiness, and, for the most part, the signs were encouraging.

Princeton opened the tournament against Hampton before running up against Maryland. Against Hampton, the Tigers scored fast and early, closing out the game 12-0 with little difficulty in just five innings. Every Tiger at bat got a hit, allowing the team to score three runs in the first two innings before closing out the game in the fifth.

The game against Maryland was a struggle for Princeton, which was unable to put a single run on the board. A dominant pitching performance was the key for Maryland, whose starting pitcher Ashley Czechner struck out 13 Tigers at bat and allowed just one hit the whole game.

The only Tiger to even touch the ball on offense was junior Kelsey VandeBergh, who also clubbed the Tigers’ only home run for the day in the earlier game against Hampton. Maryland proved to be too much, and the Tigers fell 6-0.

Princeton split games once again on Saturday, winning 2-1 against Villanova before losing a rematch to Hampton. The Villanova game started out slowly, with Villanova’s Valerie Ortega scoring the only run of the first three innings in the second.

Princeton sophomore Candy Button opened the fourth with a home run, tying the game. VandeBergh finally put the Tigers in front with another homer in the sixth inning, giving Princeton the victory.

The second Hampton game caught the Tigers by surprise. Hampton played solidly from the start, but it appeared that the Tigers would still be able to take the game. The Tigers scored first with a run in the third inning, but the Pirates pulled even in the fifth. Princeton looked poised to capture the game after scoring in the sixth inning, pulling ahead for a 2-1 lead.

The Pirates rallied in the seventh inning, though, coming back to score three runs thanks to a strong opening from their first six up to bat, and they held off Princeton for the win.

The last day was a showcase for the Tigers’ senior pitcher Michelle Tolfa, who, after entering halfway through the first inning, shut out Utah for the entire match. Tolfa forced a fly ball to end the first inning before the Utes could do any damage, and she ultimately allowed just three hits in six-and-two-thirds innings.

While Tolfa was dominating on the mound, the Tigers were having trouble scoring. Sophomore Lizzy Pierce was the first to break through, striking a double and then scoring on sophomore Sarah Rounsifer’s single for the only runs of the game.

The Tigers will be in a better position to gauge their true talent level next Sunday, when they face Marist in their first home game of the season.