Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Softball Opens 2006 Season Friday at UNC Tar Heel Invitational
March 01, 2006 | Softball
March 1, 2006
PRINCETON, N.J. - The Princeton softball team begins its 25th season on Friday at the University of North Carolina's Tar Heel Invitational. The 15-time Ivy League champions will be in search of their second straight NCAA postseason berth this season and fourth in five years. While the Tigers will be playing their first games of the year this weekend, experienced competition awaits the Tigers in Chapel Hill as South Carolina, North Carolina, Canisius, Memphis and North Dakota State are all on the docket.
The Tigers return all but two starters in outfielder Melissa Finley and catcher Amanda Erickson from their 2005 Ivy title club. Among the returnees is Ivy Pitcher of the Year Erin Snyder and fellow first-team All-Ivy pitcher Kristen Schaus, the Ivy Rookie of the Year.
In a scheduling note, all five games were moved one hour earlier since the initial announcement of the 2006 Princeton softball schedule.
The Gamecocks of South Carolina are first on Princeton's schedule at 3 p.m. on Friday. South Carolina started its season Feb. 10 and brings a 12-5 record into the weekend. Three regular starters for the Gamecocks are hitting above .300, led by sophomore outfielder Lisa Longo at .340. The team's strength so far this season has been in the circle, as all four pitchers have a sub-2.00 ERA. Rookie Christie Hamilton has shouldered the most innings so far, earning a 7-3 record and an 0.92 ERA in 53 innings. The Tigers will be looking to reverse a negative trend against the Gamecocks, losing all nine meetings from 1986 to 2004.
Host North Carolina follows at 5:30 p.m. The Tar Heels also started Feb. 10 and are 9-2 heading into a Wednesday doubleheader at UNC Wilmington. Anna Evans, a junior middle infielder, leads UNC at the plate among regular starters with a .387 batting average. Senior Crystal Cox is UNC's top pitcher with an 0.59 ERA in 35.1 innings, earning her a 3-2 record. Two more Tar Heel pitchers are 3-0 as rookie Amber Johnson carries an 0.74 ERA and fellow freshman Heather Norris logs 1.46 earned runs per seven innings. Princeton is 4-0 all-time against North Carolina but has not faced the Tar Heels since 1999. A Saturday doubleheader starts with the Tigers facing Canisius at 10 a.m. A fellow northeastern school, Canisius is just 2-2 heading into the tournament. Jess Martin, a junior catcher, leads the Griffins at the plate with a .385 batting average while Lindsay Garbacz is Canisius' top pitcher. The sophomore has collected both of the team's wins, allowing no earned runs in 12 innings. Princeton is 3-0 all-time against Canisius with the last meeting coming in 2004.
Princeton faces Memphis, a first-year program, at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in a battle of Tiger mascots. The southern Tigers are 7-3 with junior Cara Stiles hitting a scorching .514, starting all 10 games. Four more Memphis starters are also over .400 at the plate. In the circle, juniors Jenna Kubesch (1.96 ERA) and Nicki Johnson (2.30 ERA) are both 3-1 with over 20 innings pitched.
On Sunday at 10 a.m. to wrap up the weekend, Princeton faces North Dakota State, a program transitioning to Division I. The Bison are 2-7 heading into the weekend with rookie catcher Kelly Cantrell's .333 batting average leading all NDSU regular starters. In the circle, Amber Garrett, a senior, has both of NDSU's wins, compiling a 1.50 ERA in 18.2 innings.
After the UNC tournament, the Tigers have the following weekend off before the spring break trip to Northern California Mar. 17-26.