Brown University Softball's Rally Falls Short in Series Finale at Princeton, 9-8

Recap, photo courtesy of Brown University

PRINCETON, N.J. – Brown University softball rallied for three runs with two outs in the seventh inning, but Princeton University held on for a 9-8 win at Class of 1895 Field on Wednesday afternoon in the series finale of a three-game set.

Trailing 9-5 entering the seventh, the Bears (7-12, 1-2 Ivy) came back with three runs in the top of the frame before the Tigers (4-15, 2-1 Ivy) recorded the final out to take the series after the two teams split a doubleheader on Mar. 24. Brown outscored Princeton 8-1 after the first inning.

Junior Annie Scarangella (Tucson, Ariz.) posted three RBIs and a double, junior Ashli Lotz (Austin, Texas) hit a two-run double, and senior Annie McGregor (Carlsbad, Calif.) went 2-for-4 with three runs. Junior Sofia Venegas (La Mirada, Calif.) finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, and freshman Anya Schmitz (Santa Barbara, Calif.) tallied two hits, including a double.

With two outs in the seventh, Venegas started the Bears' rally with an RBI single into left field. Lotz followed with a two-run double into center field to bring the score to 9-8 before the Tigers closed out the contest.

After the Tigers opened the game with an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame, Brown began to work its way back into the game with a pair of runs in the top of the second.

A two-run double down the left field line from Scarangella brought Brown within 8-4 in the top of the third, and a sacrifice fly from Scarangella in the top of the fifth cut the deficit to 8-5. Mackenzie Meyers hit a solo home run to left center in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 9-5.

For the Tigers, Mikayla Blaska and Emily Taggart both tallied two RBIs, and Allison Harvey and Joey Smith each posted two hits. Allie Reynolds earned the win (2-8), allowing eight runs, six earned, on 11 hits with three strikeouts in a complete game.

Sophomore Emily Waters (Northridge, Calif.) threw 5.2 innings in relief, giving up four runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Freshman Grace Ladd (Boulder, Colo.) took the loss (2-1) in the start.

The three-game set between the Bears and Tigers was originally scheduled for the Tigers' Class of 1895 Field from Mar. 24-25 but was moved to Brown due to weather conditions. After the two teams played a twin bill on Mar. 24, the single game on Mar. 25 was postponed to Mar. 28 at Princeton due to weather.

Next, Brown hosts Penn for a three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 31 beginning at 12:30 p.m. and a single game on Sunday, Apr. 1 at 12:30 p.m.