Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Lehigh (Game 1)
NCAA-Bound Princeton Softball Splits with Lehigh to End Regular Season
May 09, 2006 | Softball
May 9, 2006
Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box
PRINCETON, N.J. - After exploding for eight runs in Tuesday's opener, the Princeton softball team (34-17) fell silent in the nightcap against Lehigh (38-12) at 1895 Field. Amanda Erickson had three of Princeton's 11 hits including the game-ending home run in an 8-0, six-inning win before the Tigers managed just two hits in a 3-0 game two loss. Even with the split, the Ivy-champion Tigers enter next weekend's NCAA tournament having won 11 of their last 13 games.
GAME ONE
Princeton didn't get a runner past second base until Erickson broke through in the fourth with her sixth home run of the season, a doubtless shot to left to lead off the inning.
Erin Snyder, meanwhile, was up to her usual dominance. The Mountain Hawks were able to drop in a single each in the second and third innings but advanced no further. In the fourth and fifth innings, Snyder struck out the side in order.
The Tigers exploded for six runs in the fifth inning, all of which were unearned thanks to an error early on in the frame. Stephanie Steel led off with a single to extend her hitting steak to 12 games and Cristina Cobb-Adams laid down a bunt to move her over. But Lehigh first baseman Taryn Hanley threw wide of second, allowing Steel to slide in safely. Later in the inning, Snyder, the sixth batter of the frame, snuck a two-out single inside the left-field line that brought home two runs. The bases were loaded two batters later for Samantha O'Hara, who crushed her second home run of the season inside the left-field pole, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead with the team's first grand slam of the year. In the sixth, Erickson ended the game by crushing another home run to left, her team-best seventh of the season, invoking the eight-run rule for an 8-0 Tiger win. Snyder (17-5) retired 10 in a row from the third through the sixth innings before Heather Hamasaki laced a two-out single to center for Lehigh's third and final hit of the game. She finished with 14 of a possible 18 strikeouts in six innings of work, walking none and raising her strikeouts-per-seven average to 12.2, among the highest in the nation.
Lisa Sweeney (24-4) was handed just her fourth loss in 28 decisions, giving up 11 hits with a walk and earning two of Princeton's eight runs while striking out six. She had given up five home runs all year heading into the game and surrendered three to the Tigers.
GAME TWO
Lehigh capitalized on a walk and an error in the first to take a 1-0 lead. Lauren Haney walked with two outs on a full count and took second on a wild pitch. The next batter, Mary Wieder, grounded to short and Cobb-Adams' throw across eluded the reach of Snyder at first, continuing into foul territory and allowing the run to score from second.
Tiger starter Kristen Schaus faced more trouble in the second as Whitney Lowe lined a leadoff triple to right. But after Hanley lifted a fly ball to right, Lowe tagged up and challenged the arm of Beth Dalmut. Dalmut threw a one-hopper to catcher Larkin Brogan just a couple feet left of home plate and Brogan applied the tag for the second out of the inning.
Lehigh's bats flared up again in the third, threatening to widen the Mountain Hawk lead. With one out, Kate Marvel dropped a bunt single just out of the reach of Schaus and Hamasaki drove a single to right that sent Marvel to third ahead of the throw. This time, Schaus couldn't get out of the jam, giving up a two-out, two-strike single to center by Mary Weider that scored both runs for a 3-0 advantage.
Mountain Hawk starter Kate Arico (12-6) gave up just two singles and hit a batter, retiring 20 of the 24 Tigers she faced as no runner got past first base. Arico struck out two without a walk. One of those singles went to Steel, which allowed the junior outfielder to extend her hit streak to 13 games.
Schaus (16-9) settled down after the third, but Princeton couldn't mount a comeback. The sophomore righthander sat 12 of the 14 batters she faced over the last four innings, finishing with three runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks, striking out nine.
The NCAA softball tournament selection show will be broadcast at 3:30 p.m. Sunday on ESPNEWS.