In a weekend that was determined by events that were out of the softball team's control, the Tigers lost just that — control.
Princeton let its Ivy League destiny slip out of its hands in a weekend of bad weather and worse results, as it lost two games to Dartmouth while both games against Harvard were postponed.
In order for the Tigers (17-21 overall, 6-4 Ivy League) to remain in charge of their postseason path, they would have had to rip through the weekend without a loss.
The Big Green (19-11, 4-2) quickly dashed Princeton's hopes. Dartmouth, which had never defeated the Tigers in softball, earned its first-ever victory over Princeton Friday, 9-7, in a game played in freezing rain in Hanover, N.H. The win snapped a 10-game streak that dated back to 1995. The second game of the doubleheader was postponed until Sunday.
Trapped
In Sunday's makeup game against Dartmouth, Princeton — which had been stuck in New England for an extra day — also seemed stuck in a poor offensive rut. The Tigers lost for the second time ever to Dartmouth, 6-0.
"We're definitely feeling down and demoralized," said sophomore shortstop Kim Veenstra, who had two hits and three RBI in Friday's game.
In that contest — played in miserable conditions — the Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but could not hold on as the Big Green rallied for three runs of its own in the second inning.
Senior pitcher Sarah Peterman was taken out after that outburst, but her reliever, sophomore hurler Dana Freiser, found little respite, as both teams hit well despite the cold and rain.
No inning was scoreless as the Tigers and the Big Green traded rallies. In the sixth, however, Dartmouth got a leg up with a two-run inning to break the 7-7 tie and win the game.
Although the Tigers were getting hits, they were unable to produce runs. Princeton was hurt by leaving 12 runners stranded.
"We hit really well, and we didn't play terrible defense, but we just couldn't get the win," Veenstra said.
Sunday's matchup, although played under better conditions, was an uglier game. Unlike Friday's hitting-fest, 12 of Sunday's 13 half-innings were scoreless, but, unfortunately for the Tigers, it was Dartmouth that ended the drought.
In the bottom of the third, Dartmouth erupted for six runs on four hits, only one of them earned.
Despite its scoreless output, Princeton had its chances, leaving seven runners on base. Twice, the Tigers had runners on third base and failed to produce.
"We have no excuses for how we played," Veenstra said.
Tall order
Harvard (12-17, 5-0) remains the only undefeated team in the Ivy League, and the Tigers did not get a chance to challenge the league leaders as a result of the weather. Princeton's games against Harvard were postponed until next weekend.
In order for the Tigers to have any hope of at least a share in the Ivy title, they must win both games against the Crimson next Sunday.
After that, however, Princeton's fate is out of its hands, and it does not look promising. Both Harvard and Dartmouth must lose two more games each.
Bad weather upset other games around this league this weekend. Penn lost to Harvard, 10-5, on Friday, but the second game was rained out. The makeup game, scheduled for Sunday, was also postponed, so the upset-minded Quakers still have the chance to help out Princeton.
It seems unlikely that the Tigers will receive so much help. They had counted on regaining control of the Ivy title this year after a two-year drought, but all hopes for control ended when the Tigers dropped the first Dartmouth game.
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