Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Softball Sweeps Ivy League Weekly Honors
March 21, 2006 | Softball
March 21, 2006
PRINCETON, N.J. - This week, the three honors the Ivy League awards each week have been earned by softballers wearing the Orange and Black. Junior Calli Jo Varner has been named the Ivy League Player of the Week while sophomore Kristen Schaus is the league's Pitcher of the Week and Kathryn Welch is the Rookie of the Week. Princeton won all four games at Sacramento State's Capital Classic, outscoring opponents 24-3 to improve to 6-3 on the year.
It is the second week the Ivy League has named its honorees, and Tigers have claimed four of the six awards. Senior Erin Snyder was the Ivy League Pitcher of the Week last time.
Schaus was honored for picking up two wins and a save in 14 innings over three games last weekend. She struck out 24 batters and allowed no earned runs. Against Minnesota on Friday in Princeton's first victory over a Big Ten team since 1995 and only third all-time, Schaus gave up only four hits in seven innings of work, earning neither Gopher run while striking out six and walking one. The next day, she threw her second career no-hitter, a five-inning effort against Miami University in an 8-0 win. She fanned 12 batters in those five innings with one walk. Later that day, she closed out Princeton's 3-1 win over Southern Utah for her first career save. She struck out six of the eight batters she faced in two innings. Over the weekend, she allowed six hits and two walks in 14 innings, striking out 24 while lowering her ERA from 1.94 to 1.09.
Varner went 6 for 9 (.667) at the plate with three walks in Princeton's four games, two of which were shortened by run-rule. She slugged 1.222 for the weekend with two doubles and a home run. Against the Gophers, Varner was 2 for 2 with a walk and hit a sixth-inning solo home run to break a 2-2 tie in what turned out to be the game-winning run. Saturday against Miami, Varner was 2 for 2 with a walk and an RBI in five innings. Later against Southern Utah, she was 1 for 3 with a double while also pitching five innings and picking up the win. Sunday against Nevada in Princeton's 10-0 win, Varner was 1 for 2 with a double and an intentional walk. Welch was 7 for 10 (.700) over the weekend with a walk, four RBI, two doubles and a home run, slugging 1.200. The offensive explosion raised her batting average from .067 after the season-opening tournament in North Carolina to .320. Against Minnesota, Welch went 3 for 3 with a double and a home run. She followed it up Saturday against Miami with a 2 for 3 effort with a double and an RBI in five innings, scoring two runs. Against Southern Utah Saturday evening, Welch was 1 for 2 with a sacrifice and a two-RBI single. Against Nevada on the tournament's final day, she was 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.
The Tigers, riding a five-game winning streak into the second half of their spring trip to California, are at St. Mary's Tuesday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader before heading back to Sacramento for a twinbill at Sacramento State, also at 1 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Princeton will play in Stanford's tournament against the host Cardinal, Santa Clara, UC Davis and Illinois.