By wpengine April 4, 2003
On a wet, cold afternoon, the softball team (13-3) came from behind to defeat Siena (3-10) by an 8-5 score yesterday. Junior Erin Sweeney led Cornell’s offensive charge, slamming two home runs, including the go-ahead grand slam. Classmate Kate Varde also homered, hitting a three-run shot. The game didn’t start well for the Red, though, as Siena took an early 2-0 lead. The Saints struck for single runs in the first and the third. Sarah Rose drove in Siena’s first run, doubling home Carrie Gatz, who had led off the game with a single. The Saints scored their second run on a Cornell defensive miscue, as an errant throw on a stolen base attempt allowed pitcher Tara Campell to score from third. The Red struck back in the bottom of the third, as Sweeney launched a solo shot to halve the deficit. Leading 2-1, Siena extended its lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth, as Adrian St. Cin hit a bases-loaded two-run single. The run-scoring hit came after junior pitcher Sarah Sterman ceded two singles and a walk. In the bottom of the inning, Cornell finally put a serious dent in the Siena armor. Sweeney got on base via a fielder’s choice before junior co-captain Melissa Cannon reached on an error. With runners on first and second, Varde hit a gargantuan three-run shot to even the score. “Kate Varde hit a huge home run,” Cornell head coach Dick Blood said. “That ball was really crushed.” The deadlock was short-lived, however, as Siena immediately regained the lead in the top of the sixth. Rose drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly, plating Campbell to give the Saints the 5-4 advantage. Cornell was unfazed by the deficit, though, taking the lead on a grand slam from Sweeney in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Melissa Heintz walked to open the inning. Sophomore Erin Kizer and senior Drew Martin greeted relief pitcher Tisha Salamino with singles to load the bases. With the bases packed, Sweeney drove a pitch over the center field wall to give the Red its first lead of the game and an advantage it would not relinquish. “She had a career day. She hit the ball well the other day against Drexel and she’s carried that over,” Blood said. “She had a big day today and we needed every bit of it, too.” Junior pitcher Sarah Sterman pitched a perfect seventh inning to up her record to 9-2 on the season. Meanwhile, Salamino took the loss, with Campbell getting a no-decision despite five innings of solid work. “Both pitchers did a marvelous job despite the frigid temperatures,” Blood said. “It was just too cold for softball. I thought that both teams played good defense despite the poor conditions.” For the Red, which had been relying on strong pitching and had taken large leads in recent games, yesterday’s game showed the team’s versatility and resiliency. “For us, it was a matter of getting three balls out of the yard. All three home runs accounted for all the runs. It was nice to get some clutch hitting. Our kids really did a nice job of battling at the plate,” Blood said. “It was really nice to come back.” Cornell will open the Ivy portion of its schedule when it travels to Columbia tomorrow for a doubleheader. “We’re really looking forward to it,” Blood said of the start of the Ivy campaign. “Columbia is very stingy. I know that their pitching is really tough.” Cornell will then play Manhattan in a Sunday morning twinbill. Archived article by Alex Ip
By wpengine April 4, 2003
Forty degrees and raining. Welcome to Ithaca in April. “I have a feeling that the other teams are none too thrilled about coming north for the weekend,” said women’s lacrosse coach Jenny Graap ’86. “The New York weather will likely play into the weekend.” And the No. 7 Red will be looking for every advantage it can get this weekend. Defending national champion Princeton faces off against Cornell at 7:00 this evening on Schoellkopf Field, while No. 20 Vanderbilt visits on Sunday. The game against Princeton might turn out to be one of the biggest this season for the Red. “This could have some serious implications on who wins the league,” said Graap. Cornell and the Tigers were picked for a one-two finish in the Ivies this year, and both are undefeated in league play. The Red earned a 2-0 league record against Penn and Columbia while Princeton beat the Lions for a 1-0 mark. This game stands in both teams’ path to an Ivy title. “We definitely see this as important in the Ivy League,” said Graap. “This could be a very crucial match” Picked as the No. 1 team in the country in several preseason polls, the Tigers stumbled out of the gate with a 1-3 start. Those losses, however, were to No. 2 Loyola, No. 4 Virginia, and No. 3 Duke. Princeton has since defeated No. 6 Georgetown and No. 11 Penn State. With these games in mind, Cornell will be ready for the ladies from New Jersey. In the past, said Graap, the team has looked up to the Tigers as a team, but that will not be the case this time. “Now we need to be looking right at them, not up at them,” said Graap. “We need to treat this game just like any other game.” Princeton’s skill and experience in tough games will likely prove to be its greatest assets. The team has played against the best in the country. “They’ve learned a lot in some close, competitive games,” said Graap. “They’ve gained a lot of valuable knowledge and experience.” The Red, however, has done pretty well for itself in past weeks as well. The team has earned a No. 7 ranking on the back of a 6-0 overall record, including victories against Penn and No. 15 Notre Dame. “It’s not about Cornell playing perfectly, or [playing] better,” said Graap. “We just need to keep our confidence and not go into this game with a different outlook.” Riding its six-game winning streak and a solid mixture of attack, defense and the goaltending of junior Ashley Charron, the Red has no intention of blinking in front of the Tigers. The team wants a win. At the same time though, the Red refuses to put any additional pressure on itself. “We’re trying not to make it so huge that it’s more than a 60 minute game,” said Graap. The Red will play Vanderbilt on Sunday at noon. Coming off a surprising Wednesday night victory over Duke, Vanderbilt (4-4) will be a dangerous team to face this weekend. “Vandy just beat the No. 2 team in the country,” Graap noted. “They’re going to come into here with a lot of energy and bravado.” Archived article by Matt James