Princeton University Athletics
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Softball to Host Central Connecticut State Wednesday
March 28, 2011 | Softball
In the final doubleheader before Ivy League action begins Friday, the Princeton softball team (8-10) will host Central Connecticut State (10-9-1) for a 3 p.m. twinbill Wednesday.
Princeton will host Brown Friday and Yale Saturday at Class of 1895 Field when the Ivy League season begins, but a CCSU team with seven hitters above .300 will make its first visit to campus in 19 years for its third game all-time against the Tigers. Princeton has won both previous meetings, a 3-0 decision in a home tournament in 1992 and a 3-1 victory in Maryland in 2007.
The Tigers have won seven of their last 10 heading into the CCSU doubleheader including a split against Marist in the home opener Sunday afternoon.
Junior Kelsey VandeBergh and sophomore Alex Peyton have three home runs apiece to lead the Tigers, who have four hitters above .300. Sophomore Lizzy Pierce carries the top average at .368 with four of her 14 hits as doubles.
Princeton used all three of its pitchers in the Marist doubleheader, with sophomore Liza Kuhn picking up a relief win and senior Michelle Tolfa getting a save, both in the 8-6 opener. Peyton went the distance in the 3-2 nightcap defeat.
CCSU rookie Julie Marks leads the three-member pitching staff with a 4-3 record and 2.62 ERA, while freshman outfielder Arielle Bruno has a .419 average to lead the Blue Devils. Sophomore Kelsey Barlow has six of the team's 12 home runs.
Following the CCSU twinbill, the Ivy-opening weekend will begin at 2 p.m. Friday for the Brown games and 12:30 p.m. Saturday for the Yale doubleheader.