Princeton University Athletics
Seton Hall Takes Two from Princeton Softball
April 19, 2006 | Softball
April 19, 2006
Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box
PRINCETON, N.J. - It was a day for home runs at Class of 1895 Field Wednesday. Unfortunately for the Princeton softball team (23-14), though they tied the homer battle with Seton Hall (27-21) 3-3, the Pirates swept the doubleheader, 3-2 and 9-1. The Tigers fell to 5-8 in midweek non-conference games.
GAME ONE
Seton Hall's Jenna Best made Princeton starter Kristen Schaus pay for a leadoff walk in the first by knocking a 2-2 pitch over the fence in center, giving the Pirates a 2-0 lead. Princeton got three of the first four batters on in the bottom of the first via two walks and an error, but a strikeout and a groundout stranded all three and Seton Hall held on to its two-run lead.
The Pirates took advantage of the gusty conditions once again in the top of the second as Amanda Winn led off with a home run to left-center, and Seton Hall had a 3-0 lead.
Two more home runs brought the Tigers closer in the fourth and fifth. Beth Dalmut led off the fourth by knocking the first pitch to center for her second round-tripper of the season, bringing Princeton to within 3-1, and Erin Snyder hit her third of the year to left-center in the fifth, putting the Tigers within one.
Seton Hall starter Ashley Arnett (8-6) left after Snyder's home run, allowing five hits and two runs, both earned, with three walks and a strikeout in 4 1/3 innings. Maura Lund worked the last 2 2/3, allowing one hit with two walks and a strikeout for her third save of the year. Schaus (10-8) finished with 17 strikeouts, a career-best, allowing just three hits while walking three, earning all of Seton Hall's runs. It was Schaus' fifth straight loss in which she got three or fewer runs in support. She threw 137 pitches in the defeat.
The Tigers left 12 on base, including seven in scoring position as Dalmut's two hits were a game-high.
GAME TWO
Princeton starter Calli Jo Varner retired the first two batters she faced but allowed a double and a home run to Best that gave Seton Hall another 2-0, first-inning lead. The Pirates scored two more in the third. After a walk and a single, Best notched another RBI with a single, her fifth run batted in of the day. The inning's second run came home when, with runners on first and second, Cristina Cobb-Adams overthrew first on Jessica Schulien's double-play ball and Katie Pierce was able to score instead of stopping at third. Seton Hall had its largest lead of the day at 4-0.
The Pirates scored four in the fourth to put themselves six defensive outs from a run-rule win. After a two-out single and a walk, Lauren Bierman bobbled Maggie Simkiss' grounder and overthrew first, allowing Leah Menichetti to score from second. The next batter, Pierce, singled two runs home and Best picked up her sixth RBI of the day with a double. Pierce and Best burned the Tigers in game two, Pierce going 4 for 4 with three RBI and Best 3 for 4 with four RBI.
Princeton stayed alive when Kathryn Welch hit the day's sixth home run, her team-best fifth of the season, to lead off the bottom of the fourth. It was all the Tigers got in the inning, however, and the Orange and Black still trailed 8-1.
After getting hit with a pitch and taking second on a passed ball, Simkiss scored on Pierce's double in the sixth, putting Seton Hall ahead 9-1 and the Tigers back in jeopardy of losing by the run rule for the first time this season.
Pirate pitcher Kim Schweitzer (12-7) allowed six hits and earned Princeton's run, walking one with no strikeouts.
Varner (1-3) allowed eight hits but earned only four of Seton Hall's nine runs, walking four and striking out five.
The Tigers head to Harvard for a pair Saturday and two more at Dartmouth Sunday. With four wins, Princeton will claim the Ivy League title and an NCAA Championship bid regardless of any other league outcomes.