%20(1).png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Kent State
Players Mentioned
Kent State Sends Princeton Softball Home with Loss, 4-1
March 25, 2007 | Softball
DeLAND, Fla. -- Kent State's Jamie Fitzpatrick had two home runs and all four RBIs as the Golden Flashes ended the Princeton softball team's spring break trip with a loss, 4-1, Sunday morning at Stetson University.
Princeton fell to 9-16 overall and went 4-12 on the spring trip. Kent State improved to 12-11.
The loss extends Princeton's skid to seven games, tying the record for a successful program in its 26th season. The only other time the Tigers lost seven in a row was 1999, also on the spring trip. Previously, the longest losing streak in the Maureen Barron era, which has seen Princeton win four Ivy League titles, was five games in 2004, the only year of the last five Princeton didn't make the NCAA tournament.
Kent State scored one in the opening frame when Fitzpatrick cashed in a two-out double from Flashes' starting pitcher Brittney Robinson with a chopper through the left side.
The Tigers got the run back in the top of the third, but left the bases loaded. Samantha O'Hara started the inning with a fly ball to left that Kent State outfielder Corey Houk misjudged, allowing it to fall for a double. Two wild pitches later, Kelsey Quist, running for O'Hara, scored the tying run. Princeton also had a single and two walks in the inning but couldn't pull ahead.
That missed opportunity cost Princeton immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Kent State's Kim Hamilton led off the inning with a double down the leftfield line and Fitzpatrick slammed a home run to left three batters later with two out. That put the Golden Flashes ahead 3-1.
Calli Jo Varner (3-5), Princeton's starting pitcher, left after that inning. She finished with five hits, no walks and two strikeouts, earning the three runs.
Jamie Lettire entered to throw the last three innings, giving up three hits, including Fitzpatrick's second home run, a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. It was Fitzpatrick's eighth home run of the season. Lettire walked one and struck out four.
After Princeton tied the game in the third inning and left the bases loaded, the Tigers had only two baserunners with one stranded in scoring position.
Robinson (5-6) allowed four hits and two walks while striking out 12, earning Princeton's run.
The Tigers will head north to play games in New Jersey for the first time since last May when Princeton faces Rutgers for a Wednesday twinbill starting at 3 p.m. Conference play will begin next weekend at Brown and Yale.