April 12, 2005

PRINCETON, N.J. - The Princeton softball team sets for four games over the next two days. The Tigers travel to neighboring Rutgers, today, for a doubleheader that begins at 3 p.m., before hosting a doubleheader against Towson, tomorrow, at 3 p.m.

Princeton (24-9, 5-1 Ivy) is coming off a 3-1 Ivy weekend. After splitting a pair of 1-0 games against Columbia in 24 innings, the Tigers swept Cornell in an exciting come from behind 4-3 win before blanking the Big Red, 2-0.

Sophomore Calli Jo Varner recorded five home runs, including a grand slam, this past week and currently leads the team with six homers. With a total of 26 home runs hits this season, the 2005 squad has improved to the third-best spot in program's history for home runs hit in a season.

Princeton's pitching staff currently boasts a 1.08 era, which ties the 1988 record for lowest season era in school's history. The Tigers have held batters to a stingy .193 average and with a total of 312 strikeouts on the season the Tigers have posted 12 shutouts this season.

Junior Cristina Cobb-Adams leads Princeton with a .347 batting average off 35 hits, while senior Melissa Finley has scored 20 runs and drove in 18. Junior Erin Snyder and freshman Kristen Schaus are the top leaders in the league from the mound. Snyder holds a .77 era, while Schaus boasts a .99.

Rutgers (1-27, 1-5 Big East) earned its first win of the season on Sunday with a split against Big East opponent UConn. The Scarlet Knights won the first game 2-1, before falling 5-0 in the second game. Christina Gillman (0-6) has a 6.39 era on the season and leads the pitching staff with 18 strikeouts. Offensively, Helen Smith leads the squad with a .317 batting average, .550 slugging percentage and three home runs.

Towson (20-12, 7-1 CAA) went 2-1 in a three-game series with George Mason this past weekend. The Tigers won games one and three, 1-0 and 2-1, respectively, but dropped game two, 1-0. Nina Navarro has posted six homers and boasts a .524 slugging percentage. On the mound, Jessica Fisher (9-5) has tallied a 1.69 era for the year.