Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Lehigh (Game 1)
Players Mentioned
Softball Splits with Lehigh
April 11, 2007 | Softball
PRINCETON, N.J. -- Erin Miller's sixth-inning RBI double was the game-winner in the 3-2 nightcap for the Princeton softball team after a seven-run fourth led Lehigh to a 10-2, five-inning win in the opener Wednesday evening.
The Tigers moved to 16-21 overall, heading into the Ivy South schedule this weekend at Columbia. Lehigh is now 20-15-1 as the Mountain Hawks resume their Patriot League schedule.
Game 1: Lehigh 10, Princeton 2 (5 inn.)
A seven-run fourth inning for the Mountain Hawks blew open a tie game as Lehigh sealed it one inning later in a run-rule 10-2 win in the opener.
Lehigh sent 10 batters to the plate in the decisive inning, which was punctuated by a two-RBI double by Taryn Hanley and a grand slam for cleanup hitter Lauren Haney. Three Lehigh hits, two errors, a walk and a hit batter contributed to the big inning.
The fourth was a continuation of momentum Lehigh started in the third when it closed a 2-0 Princeton advantage. Haney cashed in a Hanley double and a Kate Marvel walk with a two-out single that tied the game at 2-2.
Princeton went ahead with a pair of runs in the first inning. Starting pitcher Calli Jo Varner picked up the first one with a one-out single that scored leadoff batter Stephanie Steel, and Jackie Araneo drew a bases-loaded walk for the second run two batters later.
Varner (3-8) was only charged with three earned runs of the 10, as six of the 10 batters in the seven-run fourth inning came up with two outs, following the pair of errors. She struck out three with four walks and eight hits.
Lisa Sweeney (11-4) allowed four hits and two walks, striking out four and getting 14 of the last 16 batters she faced following the two-run first inning for the Tigers.
Game 2: Princeton 3, Lehigh 2
The Tigers rebounded and kept Lehigh off the board after a two-run first inning to split the twinbill with a 3-2 win.
Princeton and Lehigh combined to leave 16 runners on base in the game, with Lehigh stranding 10, including six in scoring position.
After Princeton tied the game in the bottom of the third, both teams missed opportunities in the fourth and fifth before the Tigers broke through in the sixth. The inning started with a leadoff walk to Kelsey Quist, who took second on a groundout and third on a passed ball. Erin Miller then crushed a double to centerfield, scoring Quist to break the tie.
Princeton survived the top of the seventh, as an error, passed ball and wild pitch combined to move leadoff runner Whitney Lowe to third base with none out. But two foul flies and a strikeout allowed Quist's sixth-inning run to stand as the difference.
Tiffany Curtis (6-7) took the loss for Lehigh, allowing six hits and two walks, striking out seven while earning two of the three runs.
Quist, a rookie who had pitched only one collegiate inning heading into the game, started in the circle and gave up two hits and two walks in her inning of work, earning one of the two runs. Jamie Lettire (7-4) then entered and threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits and four walks with three strikeouts.
Princeton will play two doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday at the north end of Manhattan as Ivy South divisional play will begin this weekend. The Tigers went 6-2 against the four Ivy North teams and stand one game behind both Penn and Cornell with 12 league games to play.