Softball Completes Sweep of Cornell Ahead of Next Weekend's ILCS

Saturday, April 30

Class of 1895 Field

1:30 PM

Princeton University

Cornell (Game 1)

Stats

Softball Completes Sweep of Cornell Ahead of Next Weekend's ILCS

April 30, 2016 | Softball

By: Princeton Athletic Communications

Postgame video with senior Emily Viggers

Record	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E	L
(9-31, 3-16)	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	3	7	1	8
(20-25, 13-6)	0	2	0	0	0	2	X	4	6	1	8

WP - La Guardia, LP - Parker, Save - Wilkinson

Record	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E	L
(9-32, 3-17)	0	1	0	1	0	2	3	2	2
(21-25, 14-6)	1	0	5	6	X	12	12	0	6

WP - Klausner, LP - Orcutt

Box Score & Play-by-Play: Game 1 | Game 2

For the first time in 10 tries, the Princeton softball team has swept a four-game series from the Cornell Big Red.

Princeton completed the sweep Saturday by holding on for a 4-3 win and scoring 11 runs across two innings to win game two 12-2 and end it after five innings.

The wins put Princeton at 21-25 overall and 14-6 in the Ivy League, winners of seven in a row. Princeton will await the outcome of the Dartmouth-Harvard series, which will continue Sunday. The team that wins the series will host Princeton next Saturday for the Ivy League Championship Series, and Dartmouth will host if the teams split.

Princeton got on the board with a pair in the second inning in the opener, pushing across a leadoff walk to Kaylee Grant with an Emily Viggers grounder that went through on an error and scoring a Skye Jerpbak single with a grounder from Danielle Allen.

Though Cornell tied it at 2-2 in the fifth with a Meg Parker two-out, two-run home run, Princeton pulled back ahead 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Marissa Reynolds had a one-out double to pick up Viggers and pinch hitter Mikayla Blaska had a two-out single to score Kate Miller.

Cornell threatened in the top of the seventh, getting a two-out, bases loaded walk to pull within 4-3 before Princeton went to freshman Riley Wilkinson to face one batter and get the save, her fourth of the season to set a program single-season record.

Shanna Christian pitched three scoreless innings before handing the ball to Ashley La Guardia, who came within one out of finishing the win.

In game two, Princeton and Cornell had a run apiece over the first two innings before the Tigers broke loose in the third. Kaylee Grant had a two-out RBI single to put Princeton up 1-0 in the bottom of the first before Cornell tied it on a Meg Murray RBI single with one out in the second. After Cornell starter Maddie Orcutt retired the first two batters she faced in the third, Princeton reached five straight batters, getting RBI hits from Viggers, Miller and a three-run home run from Marissa Reynolds to make it 6-1.

Though Parker homered for Cornell to start the fourth, Princeton reached six straight batters in its half of the inning, with Danielle Dockx driving in a run, Viggers hammering a grand slam and Miller coming home on a wild pitch to take a 12-2 lead. Erica Nori came in for the top of the fifth and faced four batters to seal the run-rule finish.


Senior Kate Miller had two of Princeton's six hits in game one.
Senior Emily Viggers drove in five runs in game two, going 2 for 3 with a grand slam.

In the opener, freshman Riley Wilkinson set a Princeton record with her fourth save of the season, entering with the bases loaded and Princeton up 4-3, getting the only batter she faced to seal the win.

In the second game, junior Marissa Reynolds broke it open with a three-run home run that made it 6-1 Princeton.

• Senior Emily Viggers' second-game grand slam was her first grand slam as a Tiger, her fourth career home run and her first since April 10, 2014 against Rutgers.

• Viggers' grand slam was the team's second of the year. Danielle Dockx had one against Colgate on March 26.

• Sixteen of Princeton's 27 home runs have come against Ivy South opponents Penn, Columbia and Cornell.

• Princeton's seven-game winning streak is its longest since 2013.

• In taking three of four from Penn, three of four from Columbia and four of four from Cornell, Princeton has won all three series against the Ivy South for the first time since 2008 and the second time since the format began in 2007.

• Senior Kayla Bose and junior Marissa Reynolds each had a hit in all four games against Cornell.

• Sophomore Ashley La Guardia has won her last three starts.

• Senior Kate Miller went 4 for 6 in Saturday's twinbill.

• Viggers drove in five runs in Saturday's second game to set a career single-game best.