Softball Team Rallies to Win Ivy League Tournament Opener

Thursday, May 7

Princeton, N.J.

12:00 PM

Princeton University

31-13

Brown (Ivy League Tournament)

20-23

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Brown	0	4	0	0	1	0	0	5	6	1
Princeton	0	0	3	1	0	3	X	7	8	2

Mia Valenzuela's home run tied the game in the sixth inning.

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

Softball Team Rallies to Win Ivy League Tournament Opener

May 07, 2026 | Softball

Box Score

Coming back from an early four-run deficit, the Princeton softball team rallied past Brown 7-5 Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the Ivy League Tournament at Cynthia Lynn Paul '94 Field.

The top-seeded Tigers will face either third-seeded Columbia or second-seeded Harvard on Friday at 10 a.m. with a berth in Saturday's final on the line.

Brown took a 4-0 lead in the top of the second, using two singles, an error, a sacrifice fly and Amanda Deng's two-run home run to build the early advantage. Cassidy Shaw limited the damage from there, striking out the final two batters of the inning after the Bears' fourth run had scored.

Princeton began its comeback in the third. Maddie Ratcheson was hit by a pitch, Sonia Zhang singled, and Graciela Dominguez moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt before Julia Dumais was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two out, Abby Hornberger delivered the game's biggest swing, doubling to right center to clear the bases and pull Princeton within 4-3.

The Tigers tied it in the fourth when Mia Valenzuela led off with a double and later scored on Zhang's sacrifice fly. Brown briefly moved back in front in the fifth on Abby Bettencourt's solo home run, but Princeton took the lead for good with three runs in the sixth.

Valenzuela opened the sixth with a solo home run to left, tying the game at 5-5. After Lola Coole walked and re-entered runner Julieta Roa advanced to third on a double steal with Ratcheson, Dominguez singled to left center to bring home Roa and give Princeton its first lead. Dumais followed with a sacrifice fly to score Ratcheson and make it 7-5.

Brielle Wright handled the final two innings in the circle, allowing one hit and striking out two to close out the win. Wright retired Brown in order in the seventh, finishing the game with a strikeout.

Hornberger drove in three runs, while Valenzuela went 2 for 3 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Ratcheson was 2 for 2 with two runs scored, while Dominguez had two hits and an RBI. Princeton finished with eight hits and stole three bases.

Shaw struck out nine over five innings, tying a career high after three nine-strikeout games last season and one as a rookie in 2024, and Wright added two strikeouts over two scoreless innings of relief as Princeton pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts without issuing a walk.

The win was Princeton's 31st of the season, the team's most since 2006.