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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Yale (Game 1)
Players Mentioned
Softball Takes Two from Yale to Complete Weekend Sweep
April 01, 2007 | Softball
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Another day, another extra-inning game for the Princeton softball team. After gutting out an eight-inning win over Brown Saturday, the Tigers did the same Sunday, beating Yale 4-1 in a 10-inning opener before winning the second game 6-3.
The wins keep Princeton perfect on the Ivy season at 4-0 as Princeton improved to 13-18 overall. Yale was swept on the first full weekend of league play, falling to 13-7 overall and 0-4 in the Ivy League.
It is the third straight year Princeton has swept all four games against Brown and Yale, extending the team's winning streak against the Bears to 12 and over Yale to seven.
Game 1: Princeton 4, Yale 1
Princeton came through with three runs in the top of the 10th inning to win its second straight extra-inning game, 4-1.
The Tigers left seven runners on base through the first nine innings before finally converting in the third extra frame.
Princeton's first run came in the opening inning with three singles. Stephanie Steel led off the game with a base hit, and three batters later, Kathryn Welch scored her to put the Tigers ahead 1-0.
Kristen Schaus, who threw a complete-game shutout Saturday at Brown, allowed only a pair of singles through the first three innings before a tense situation in the fourth.
Yale's Aracelis Torres led off that inning with a double, and after a sacrifice, represented the tying run at third base. But Schaus got two pop-ups to end the threat, and Princeton held on to its one-run lead.
But Yale tied the game in its next at-bat in the fifth. Kylie Hanson dropped a one-out single just inside the leftfield foul line, took second on a steal and rushed home on a single two batters later by Ashley Sloan.
Though Princeton had a runner at third with two out in the sixth, the Tigers didn't mount a scare again until the decisive 10th inning.
Yale, meanwhile, kept Schaus on her toes in the eighth. The Princeton pitcher gave up a pair of two-out singles before prolonging the game with a flyout by Bulldog cleanup hitter Megan Enyeart. Yale then was retired in order in the ninth.
Samantha O'Hara and Brianna Moreno had singles as two of the first three batters of the 10th, and Collette Abbott reached when Yale second baseman Christina Guerland couldn't pick up her grounder near the mound. Larkin Brogan, pinch-running for O'Hara, scored on the play and the Tigers had two on with one out.
Welch then got Princeton an insurance run on a single to put the Tigers ahead 3-1, driving in Moreno, and Jackie Araneo brought home the fourth run with a sacrifice fly later in the inning.
Schaus gave up only a single in the 10th to preserve the win. She allowed eight hits and struck out five on 152 pitches to improve to 6-8 on the year.
Yale pitcher Rebecca Wojciak (5-2) lasted five batters into the 10th inning before being relieved. She allowed 12 hits, earning three of the four runs while striking out four. Holly Gutterud gave up a walk, but got the last two outs to end the top of the 10th.
Game 2: Princeton 6, Yale 3
The Tigers led start-to-finish in the nightcap, answering both times after the Bulldogs scored in the third and fifth innings to complete the sweep with a 6-3 win.
Princeton scored in the opening inning again in the second game, with Stephanie Steel once again singling to start off the contest. Kathryn Welch doubled her home three batters later with two out, and pitcher Jamie Lettire followed that up with another double to score Welch for a 2-0 lead.
But Yale halved the lead in the bottom of the second when Megan Enyeart led off with a ball into rightfield that got to the fence, allowing Enyeart to reach third. Katie Edwards then followed with a sacrifice fly, and Yale was within 2-1.
The Tigers got that run back and one more in their next at-bat. With Brianna Moreno on third and Collette Abbott on second and one out, Welch executed a perfect squeeze play, allowing Moreno to come home and Welch to reach. Lettire then brought Abbott home with a fly ball to centerfield, giving Princeton a 4-1 lead.
Yale got two back in the bottom of the fourth when Allie Canulli homered to straightaway centerfield with two out, bringing in a single by Kyli Hanson to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Once again, the Tigers got both runs back in their next at-bat. Moreno reached when Enyeart dropped the throw across on Moreno's grounder, and the error was costly. Abbott and Welch both singled, each picking up an RBI to increase the lead to 6-3.
Lettire got through the last three Yale at-bats to pick up the win, evening her overall record at 4-4 as the rookie has won both her Ivy starts. She allowed seven hits and two walks, striking out three and earning the three Yale runs.
Yale pitcher Kayla Kuretich (2-2) allowed nine hits and a walk, striking out one, while earning four of the six Princeton runs as the Bulldogs made two errors.
The Tigers will have their first home games of 2007 next weekend as Princeton will host Harvard and Dartmouth. The doubleheader with the Crimson will start Saturday at noon, with the Dartmouth twinbill beginning Sunday at 1 p.m.