Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Softball Splits with St. John's in Home Finale
April 29, 2006 | Softball
April 29, 2006
Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box
PRINCETON, N.J. - Princeton's bats got going too late in the day to get Erin Snyder a win on Senior Day at Class of 1895 Field, but Kristen Schaus got plenty of run support in the nightcap as the Princeton softball team (29-16) split with St. John's (26-24) Saturday. The Tigers dropped the opener in their home finale 1-0, but rebounded in game two to win 7-2.
GAME ONE
A pair of first-inning base hits was all St. John's needed to take the opener. Tami Hill led off with one for the Red Storm and three batters later, Lauren Lupinetti brought her home with a two-out single through the left side.
Princeton had runners on in each of the first two innings with the second inning a particularly costly missed opportunity. A single from Snyder and a two-out double from Calli Jo Varner put Tigers at second and third, but a strikeout ended the inning.
Princeton went down in order in the next three frames before seeing a one-out triple by Stephanie Steel go by the wayside in the sixth when Steel was doubled off third on a popped-up bunt attempt.
Snyder (14-5) took the loss in her final appearance at '95 Field, giving up five hits with a walk. Her nine strikeouts gives her 202 on the year, making her just the third pitcher in Princeton history to have two 200-strikeout seasons. Lisa Moore '94 was the first and Schaus became the second member of that club Thursday at Villanova. Red Storm pitcher Lisa Geer (12-9) allowed four hits and struck out four without a walk in her second shutout of the season.
GAME TWO
It was the Tigers who scored a first-inning run in the nightcap. Steel smacked a leadoff single up the middle and two batters later, Amanda Erickson brought her home with a sacrifice fly. Snyder added another leading off the second, driving her fourth home run of the season to right-center.
Erickson picked up her second and third RBI of game two with her one-out shot to straightaway centerfield that scored Kathryn Welch and gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead in the third inning. It was her fifth round-tripper of the year and it chased Red Storm starter Jessica Foley (7-9) from the game. Foley allowed six hits and earned all four runs, walking none with a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.
Kimberly Lerch gave up Princeton's third home run of the day, this one to Varner leading off the fourth for her fourth home run of the year. It was the first of six hits in the inning as the Tigers scored three in the frame. One-out hits from Steel and Cristina Cobb-Adams put runners on for Welch to pick up a pair of RBI and put Princeton ahead 7-0. Lerch was pulled after that inning, having allowed seven hits and three runs, all earned, with a strikeout and no walks in an inning and two-thirds.
St. John's responded in the top of the fifth with a first-pitch leadoff home run from Loren Anguiano. After a pair of singles, a wild pitch and an RBI groundout by Hill, the Red Storm added another run to come to within 7-2.
Schaus (14-8) struck out 13 batters, allowing seven hits and two walks and earning both Red Storm runs.
Geer finished the game in the circle for St. John's, allowing a hit and a walk over two innings, fanning three. Four Tigers had multi-hit games in the nightcap with Snyder and Welch each getting three hits and Steel and Varner getting two.
Princeton continues its weekend at St. Joseph's in Philadelphia for a noon doubleheader Sunday. The regular season wraps up for the Tigers next Saturday at Rider before the NCAA Regionals commence May 18.