While this weekend’s series wasn’t the first of the season for the softball team (8–12 overall, 3–0 Ivy League), Saturday was an “opening day” in many ways. The Tigers hosted the Harvard Crimson (11–7, 0–3) in their first home and Ivy League series of the year, as well as the first ever series at the new Cynthia Lynn Paul ’94 Field.
Bouncing back from a tough out-of-conference schedule that saw the Tigers fall to a 5–12 early-season record, Princeton took all three games from their Ivy foe, blanking Harvard in Saturday’s doubleheader and prevailing in a back-and-forth battle on Sunday to complete the sweep.
“Beating a gritty team like that showed us the work we put in will always pay off, and we know we have so much more left to give,” sophomore outfielder Karis Ford told The Daily Princetonian. Last season, the team won the Ivy League. “Last year’s success set the standard, so we’re focused on trusting our process to put us in the best position possible to go far this season.”
Pitching clinic times two
Both Princeton starters went the distance without allowing a single run on Saturday afternoon. Junior pitcher Brielle Wright only had to toss six innings as the Tigers reached the eight run mercy rule in the sixth frame of game one, winning 8–0. Sophomore pitcher Cassidy Shaw followed up this performance with a shutout of her own, allowing just two hits in seven innings en route to a 6–0 game two victory.
“Being a part of a pitching staff whose environment is unwaveringly supportive and motivating is a crucial part of what makes our system work so well,” Shaw told the ‘Prince.’ “I am thrilled to watch the hard work contribute to something special.”
The Tiger offense got started early in game one. The first two batters drew walks before Ford launched a three-run home run to plate them all. Princeton added one more in both the third and the fifth, extending their lead to 5–0.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers drew four walks to make it 6–0, and the bases remained loaded for senior outfielder Allison Ha who lined one into center, scoring two more to end the game.
The first inning of game two produced strong feelings of déjà vu, as Princeton again opened with two runners on base, and Ford again made the Crimson pitching staff pay by lasering a ball over the left field fence. The Tigers tacked on three in the fourth, including another sequence reminiscent of the first game in which Ha recorded her second two-run single of the day.
Shaw shut it down in the remaining three innings, and the Tigers swept the doubleheader.
“Saturday’s outing for our team was incredible, and getting to do my job of locking it down on defense was a phenomenal experience that I look forward to building on for conference play,” Shaw told the ‘Prince.’ “Being a part of a pitching staff like ours is an absolute privilege.”
Tigers win thriller in game three
Harvard struck first on Sunday, scoring two in the top of the first to notch their first runs of the series.
Junior infielder Julia Dumais answered for the Tigers with a solo shot to straightaway center. Ha evened the score with an RBI single and advanced to third on a fielding error. Senior center fielder Lauren Sablone then laid a bunt down the first base line to bring Ha home.
Harvard scored another three in the second to retake the lead, chasing Wright, who made her second start in as many days. Princeton exploded in the fourth to retake the lead 8–5, but Harvard would not go down easy. The Crimson homered twice in the fifth to knot the game at eight.
However, Ford had one more piece of hitting in store for the resilient Crimson, a sacrifice fly to make it 9–8. This would ultimately be the final score, as first-year pitcher Keala Hollenkamp allowed just one hit in 2.1 innings of relief and earned her first career win for the Tigers.
“Hitting in big moments like that is my favorite part of the sport,” Ford said to the ‘Prince.’ “It felt amazing to help my team get ahead with the sac fly.”
Also tasked with performing in a big moment, Hollenkamp said, “Cass [Shaw] and B-dubs [Wright] had pitched great games Saturday and did a great job Sunday, so when it was my turn to pick them up, I knew I had to lean into the team mentality.”
Harvard may see Ford in their nightmares, as the sophomore tallied three hits, six walks, and eight RBIs in the weekend series, earning Ivy League Player of the Week honors.
The Tigers host Yale (15–12, 5–1) next weekend. Looking even further ahead, Princeton hopes to build upon last year’s stellar campaign in which they won the Ivy League tournament and qualified for the NCAA Regional tournament.
“We’ve definitely set the bar high as a team with our Ivy/Regional run last season, but we still need to earn it this year,” Shaw said to the ‘Prince.’
Luke Stockless is a staff Sports writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com
Read More
After difficult season, two men’s basketball assistants asked not to return for the 2025–26 season
Doug SchwartzThe coaching change comes after a tumultuous season that saw the Tigers lose to the Yale Bulldogs in the Ivy Madness semifinals after being the preseason favorite to head to the NCAA tournament.
The coaching change comes after a tumultuous season that saw the Tigers lose to the Yale Bulldogs in the Ivy Madness semifinals after being the preseason favorite to head to the NCAA tournament.
Q&A with Eisgruber turns tense at CPUC meeting
Cynthia TorresAt the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) meeting on Monday, Eisgruber was confronted with queries from several students who had skirted the committee’s rules on submitting questions on advance.
At the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) meeting on Monday, Eisgruber was confronted with queries from several students who had skirted the committee’s rules on submitting questions on advance.
Overhaul of nearly dormant Judicial Committee proposed at CPUC meeting
Christopher BaoAt the CPUC meeting on March 24, changes were proposed to the Judicial Committee an appeals body that may also play a small role in coordinating investigations.
At the CPUC meeting on March 24, changes were proposed to the Judicial Committee an appeals body that may also play a small role in coordinating investigations.