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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
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Dartmouth (Game 1)
Players Mentioned
Homer-Happy Softball Tigers Sweep Dartmouth in Ivy Opener
March 29, 2008 | Softball
PRINCETON -- Jamie Lettire, Kelsey Quist and Kathryn Welch each clubbed two home runs in Saturday's Ivy League-opening doubleheader at Class of 1895 Field as the Princeton softball team defeated Dartmouth 4-3 and 8-2.
Princeton improves to 5-17 overall and 2-0 in league play while Dartmouth falls to 4-15 and 0-2.
"It was a great opening day to the Ivy League season that I hope will propel us to a strong start," Princeton coach Trina Salcido said. "We will need to keep up the same level of intensity and production on offense to be successful in league play."
Princeton 4, Dartmouth 3 (Game 1)
The Tigers lost two leads in Saturday's opener before turning back one last Big Green threat in the seventh to hold on and win.
Quist's first home run of the day led off the second inning and staked Princeton to a 1-0 lead before Dartmouth's Ashley Gleason deposited one just over the fence to tie it in the top of the fourth.
Welch led off the fourth with a double and eventually came home on a ground ball by Collette Abbott to retake a one-run lead for the Tigers at 2-1 before Dartmouth again responded in its next at-bat.
Dartmouth had the bases empty with two out in the fifth before a double, a shallow hit into left field that bounced around for a triple and a misplayed ball at second base added up to two runs and a 3-2 Big Green lead, Dartmouth's first of the game.
Princeton got its second home run of the opener just when it needed a big hit. Quist reached on a one-out infield single and Lettire followed by homering to left field, turning a one-run deficit into a 4-3 lead.
But the Big Green had one more threat in store, again with two outs. Back-to-back hits put Dartmouth runners at first and third before Princeton pitcher Kristen Schaus got a ground ball to end the scare.
Schaus (2-11) gave up eight hits and struck out seven in the complete-game effort.
Princeton 8, Dartmouth 2 (Game 2)
After a tense opener, Princeton had a much calmer ride to victory in game two. Quist had a two-run home run in the first inning and Welch added a solo shot to give Princeton a 3-0 lead after three before Dartmouth struck back in the top of the fourth.
Tagging Princeton starter Michelle Tolfa (2-3) for five hits in the fourth, Dartmouth pushed just two runs across to allow Tolfa to leave the game with a lead, albeit one run at 3-2.
Schaus entered to nail down a three-inning save, her first of the season, as Princeton provided more fireworks against a pair of Dartmouth pitchers. Stephanie Trudeau relieved starter Devin Lindsay to start the fifth, but after Megan Weidrick greeted Trudeau with a double before Welch followed with her second home run of the day to push the lead to 5-2.
Lindsay re-entered as Dartmouth's only other pitcher, Angela Megaw, fell to injury in game one after taking a Quist comebacker to the chest. Lettire homered as the second batter of Lindsay's second stint in the nightcap, giving Princeton a 7-2 lead.
The Tigers scratched out its final run in the sixth when Lettire scored Weidrick on a sacrifice fly RBI.
The holders of the last three Ivy League titles will meet Sunday when Harvard comes to Class of 1895 Field for a 12:30 p.m. doubleheader.