%20(1).png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
South Florida (Game 1)
Players Mentioned
Softball Tigers Break Even in South Florida Twinbill
March 21, 2007 | Softball
TAMPA, Fla. -- Behind a solid effort from pitcher Calli Jo Varner in the nightcap, the Princeton softball team split a doubleheader at South Florida Wednesday evening. After dropping the opener 5-0, Princeton won the second game, 3-1.
The split keeps Princeton's record at .500 at 9-9 as the Tigers have broken even on their last four doubleheaders. The host Sunshine Staters moved to 27-15.
"It was a great way to come out for the second ballgame," Princeton head coach Maureen Barron said. "We were flat in game one. Calli Jo had a great effort on the mound and I'm really happy with how we played."
Game 1: South Florida 5, Princeton 0
South Florida's JoJo Medina homered in the bottom of the second to left-center, giving the Bulls a 1-0 lead, and two innings later, three straight singles to lead off the fourth helped put USF ahead 4-0. Medina and Ashley Bullion had RBI singles, and Aya Nakajima had a run-scoring groundout.
Kristen Schaus (4-6) started the opener for Princeton and left after the three-run fourth inning, allowing six hits without a walk while earning all four runs. She struck out four Bull batters.
Jamie Lettire entered for the last two innings and allowed one run when Brittany Villa cashed in a leadoff single by Allison Savarese with a two-out base hit to put USF ahead 5-0. Lettire gave up four hits and a walk in two innings, earning the run.
Bree Spence (5-4) allowed Princeton five hits in five innings of work, but after Stephanie Steel found third base with two outs in the first, only one Tiger reached scoring position the rest of the game. Spence retired seven straight Princeton batters from the third through fifth innings before leaving the contest.
Kristen Gordon entered after Spence gave up a single to start the sixth and retired five of the seven batters she faced with one reaching on an error and another on a fielder's choice.
It was just the second time on the year Princeton had been shut out after Louisville blanked the Tigers on March 9.
Game 2: Princeton 3, South Florida 1
Varner had an outstanding outing in the second game as Princeton knocked off South Florida, 3-1.
Varner (3-2) gave up five hits with a run, walking three and striking out four in her second shutout win of the season.
Princeton broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth when Kathryn Welch came through with a two-out, two-RBI single. Jackie Araneo started the inning by stringing a single through the right side and, two batters later, Erin Miller dropped a key single into left-center to put Tigers at the corners with one out.
After a flyout by Steel that wasn't deep enough to score Araneo from third and tagged Princeton with its second out in a key scoring opportunity, USF coach Ken Eriksen elected to walk Princeton's leading regular hitter, speedy slapper Brianna Moreno, to get to cleanup hitter Welch, who converted with a single up the middle.
The runs came off USF ace Christy Ecks (7-5), who entered the game with an 0.46 ERA. Ecks allowed Princeton five hits, with two going to Welch, while walking two and earning both runs. She struck out five.
Gordon came into relieve for the Bulls in the sixth and allowed three hits and a walk along with Princeton's final run. She struck out one.
Medina homered for the second time on the day -- her fourth of the season -- to halve the lead on the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth, bringing the Bulls within 2-1. However, after Varner allowed a single to put the tying run on first, she retired the next three batters to keep the one-run advantage.
The Tigers added to the lead in the seventh after Welch drove a leadoff double to the wall in right-center and Collette Abbott brought her home two batters later with a sacrifice fly to regain the two-run lead.
Princeton will have its final midweek doubleheader Thursday when it travels to the University of Florida for a 5 p.m. twinbill. The Gators are ranked 22nd in the NFCA coaches' poll.
"We're excited to play Florida tomorrow. It should be a great game," Barron said.