Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Lehigh
Lehigh Snaps Softball's Seven-Game Win Streak, 2-1
April 06, 2006 | Softball
April 6, 2006
Box Score
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Princeton's seven-game winning streak ended on Thursday at Lehigh (20-8) as the Tiger softball team (16-9) fell 2-1 at Lehigh's Kaufman Field. Princeton used a pair of doubles to score its run in the second, but a costly fielding error touched off a two-run fourth for the Mountain Hawks.
The victory was just Lehigh's fourth in 30 meetings with the Tigers and first on its home turf since 1987. It also was a little bit of payback for a higher-stakes win Princeton earned last year, ending Lehigh's season in the NCAA Championship in Tucson, Ariz.
Calli Jo Varner cashed in Amanda Erickson's leadoff double with a two-bagger of her own in the second inning, putting the Tigers ahead 1-0.
Princeton starter Kristen Schaus (7-5) was rolling until the fourth inning, having given up just one hit. But with one out, Lehigh's Mary Weider lifted a fly to Brianna Moreno in left. Moreno was under the ball but the usually reliable outfielder committed her first error of the season, seeing the ball bounce out of her glove and Weider stroll into second. Julie Sterrett followed it with a triple that scored Weider and tied the game. The next batter, Megan Conrad, hit one back to Schaus and Sterrett beat the throw home, giving Lehigh a 2-1 lead.
Lisa Sweeney (13-3), Lehigh's starter, was lifted with her team in the lead, giving up three hits and a run, walking one and striking out four. Kate Arico earned her second save, allowing two hits and striking out four without a walk in three innings. Schaus finished with just three hits and a walk in six innings of work, striking out six while earning one of Lehigh's runs. And while the team committed a season-high three errors, Schaus stranded the benefactors of two of those miscues.
It wasn't hitting but the lack of timely hitting that snapped Princeton's winning streak. The Tigers had three doubles but left two of them at third and another runner at second.
The Tigers, 2-0 in Ivy play, resume the league schedule Saturday at Class of 1895 Field against Yale in a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The weekend continues Sunday with Brown.