April 28, 2005

PRINCETON, N.J. - Junior Erin Snyder is riding a five-game hitting streak and looks to add more to her total, as the Princeton softball team hosts its final home games of the season this week. The Tigers face Villanova in a non-conference doubleheader on today at 3 p.m. at the Class of 1895 Field, before taking on Rider on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Tigers dropped their first doubleheader of the season against Saint Joseph's on Tuesday. Princeton fell 3-1 in the opener and then 2-0 in the second game. Junior Cristina Cobb-Adams recorded the lone run for the Tigers. Senior Melissa Finley leads Princeton (33-16) from the plate with a .331 batting average, 13 doubles and 28 runs. Snyder (15-3) and freshman Kristen Schaus (13-7) lead the Ivy League with 201 and 196 strikeouts, respectively. Snyder has nine shutouts, while Schaus has pitched six.

The Wildcats fell to Temple, 1-0 on Tuesday and enter today's matchup with a 32-23 record. On the road, Villanova is 8-7 on the season. Shannon Williams (18-12) leads from the center of the diamond with a 1.32 era, 230 strikeouts and three shutouts on the season. At the plate, Sheri Donley holds a .302 batting average and has tallied a team-leading 10 doubles for 24 RBI this year.

The Broncs are 10-28 on the season and fell, 10-0 and 8-0, in its doubleheader against Manhattan earlier this week. Jennifer Cullen leads Rider with a .360 batting average and has tallied 10 RBI on the season. In the circle Heather Beintema (6-14) has posted a 4.71 era on the season.

Villanova swept Princeton last season. The Tigers fell 3-0 in the opener and then 1-0 in eight innings in the second game. Against Rider, Princeton won the first game, 7-4, in 10 innings, but dropped the second game 6-3.