Princeton University Athletics
Finley's Seventh Homer Gives Softball 10-8 Extra-Inning Win Over Columbia
May 01, 2004 | Softball
May 1, 2004
Stats
Princeton, N.J. - Melissa Finley went 4 for 5 with two runs, four RBIs and the walk-off game-winning home run, and was the winning pitcher in Princeton's 10-8 come-from-behind thriller over Columbia in Game 2 at the Class of 1895 Field. The Lions won the first game 5-1 behind Jackie Adelphio's (12-11) one-hitter, which handed Princeton pitcher Calli Varner (4-1) her first career loss.
The Tigers trailed the second game 8-3 before tying the score 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh and winning with Finley's seventh homer of the year in the bottom of the ninth.
With the split, Princeton (23-22) and Columbia (25-26) finish the Ivy League season tied at 7-7. The doubleheader was a make-up from last Sunday when Game 1 was halted after the fourth due to rain. Before the game was postponed last Sunday, the Tigers scored once in the first off two walks and two wild pitches. With two outs in the inning, Adelfio walked Stephanie Steel and Cristina Cobb-Adams. The runners advanced once on a wild pitch and then advanced again on another, scoring Steel before Kristin Del Calvo flied out to end the inning.
Columbia tied the game in the third when Marisa Marconi's double to third sent home Maiya Chard-Yaron, who reached on an error. The Lions took the lead in the fourth with a run off the fifth wild pitch of the game. Kimberly Krisman walked, advanced to second on a sac bunt, moved to third on Calli Varner's first wild pitch, and scored off Varner's second wild pitch for a 2-1 Columbia lead before the game was called.
The Lions began the resumed game with a one-out two-run homer in the fifth inning. After Marconi walked, Taylor Tierney hit her eighth home run of the season to left center for a 4-1 Columbia lead.
Amelia Runyan relieved Varner on the mound in the sixth for three quick outs and Finley got Princeton's first and only hit of the game in the bottom of the inning with a two-out ground single to left. A pop-out to third base stranded Finley, and the Tigers trailed 4-1 entering the seventh.
Columbia put two runners on before Runyan struck out two straight but Parsons, who led off with a single, stole second and advanced two bases on two Princeton errors. Runyan struck out one more to end the top of the inning but the Tigers went three up, three down in the bottom of the seventh to take the 5-1 loss.
In the first inning of Game 2, Finley had two strikes and two outs against Tierney before the home run hitter smacked her second dinger of the day. Tierney's ninth homer of the season also scored Chard-Yaron, who led off the game with a single up the middle.
Princeton got one run back in the bottom of the first when Steel led off with a bloop single into center and advanced on a Wendy Bingham sacrifice bunt. Del Calvo ripped a two-out double up the third base line to score Steel, and Snyder singled up the right side before the end of the first. The Tigers trailed 2-1 after one.
In the second, Stephanie Reeder and Shelle Borton hit back-to-back singles to left field and advanced on a sacrifice bunt before Chard-Yaron's single up the right side drove home another Columbia run. The Tigers grounded out their first three batters to end the second down 3-1.
Finley walked two and struck out two in the fourth before Erin Snyder relieved her with two runners on. Parsons loaded the bases with an RBI single to center field and Marconi walked to push home another run for a 5-1 Columbia lead. Snyder struck out Tierney for the final out.
The Tigers answered with a run off a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth. Del Calvo singled to right field, advanced to second on a Snyder sacrifice bunt, moved to third on Finley's base hit to center field and scored on Lindsay Motal's sac fly.
After holding Columbia, Princeton scored again in the fifth to cut the Lions' lead to 5-3. Ty Ries led off with a walk, advanced to second when Steel singled to second, and moved to third on a Bingham sacrifice bunt. Cobb-Adams drove Ries home with a single to center field before two straight outs stranded two Tigers on base.
Columbia took its largest lead in the sixth with three runs off three hits and three Princeton errors. Lexie Costic and Marconi both reached base on errors and Kacy Krisman and Tierney hit RBI singles before Finley came back to the mound for Princeton. The Lions led 8-3.
Megan Ivey relieved Adelfio on the mound in the sixth but immediately gave up a hit to Finley, who singled to right field, stole second, and advanced to third on a Tiffany Andras sac bunt. Finley scored when Ries grounded out to second for a 8-4 game entering the final inning of regulation.
Finley struck out two to hold the Lions in the top of the seventh before Princeton exploded for four runs off four hits, knotting the game 8-8 in its last chance. The Tigers loaded the bases in their first three at-bats. Bingham led off with a double to left field, Cobb-Adams was hit by the pitch and Del Calvo singled to left field. Finley capitalized with a two-run single to left field before Motal's double to the same place scored Del Calvo but put Finley out at home.
Motal scored the tying run when Andras reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, forcing the game into extra innings.
In the ninth, Del Calvo singled to left field but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice that put Snyder on first. Finley's one-out homer went over the left center fence and drove home Snyder for the 10-8 win.
Finley (7-9) struck out seven batters in seven innings while Del Calvo finished the game 4 for 5 with two runs and an RBI.
Today's games were the last at home for Princeton seniors Wendy Bingham and Kristin Del Calvo. The Tigers end their season this Tuesday, May 4 with a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader at Rider.