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Cornell University Athletics

Alyson Onyon, 2012

Softball Outlasts Princeton Behind Onyon's Gem To Split Doubleheader

4/28/2013 6:33:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score (Cornell 1, Princeton 0 - 15 innings)
Game 2 Box Score (Princeton 11, Cornell 2 - 6 innings)

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Junior Alyson Onyon made sure Cornell's two seniors would always remember the day, pitching a 15-inning complete game shutout in a 1-0 triumph over archrival Princeton on Sunday afternoon at Niemand*Robison Field. The Tigers won the nightcap 11-2 in six innings to split the doubleheader. Cornell moved to 20-26 (8-12 Ivy), while the visitors went to 27-19 (12-8 Ivy).

Onyon went the distance, throwing 171 pitches and allowing just eight hits, seven of which were singles. She struck out seven and stranded 15 Princeton baserunners, including the leadoff runner in each of the final two innings.

For the second time in as many years, Onyon and Princeton's Alex Peyton matched up in a classic pitcher's duel, with Onyon's Big Red team scratching together the winning run. In 2012, it came in the 14th inning. In 2013, Cornell walked off the field in the 15th.

Junior Christina Villalon drilled Peyton's 200th pitch of the ballgame into right-centerfield, scoring freshman Meg Parker from second. It was Villalon's second double of the game, her 17th  of the season and the team's fifth of the contest.

Peyton was a warrior as well in the circle, scattering 12 hits and allowing just the one run while also stranding 15 runners.

The Tigers' best opportunity to score came right off the bat, as Onyon loaded the bases after a pair of singles and an error with just one out in the top of the first. She buckled down and induced a double play ball, a sharply hit grounder to short to get out unscathed.

Cornell stranded a pair of runners in the first and left at least one batter stranded in 12 of the game's first 14 innings, including runners on first and second with one out in the 10th. Peyton worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout.

Villalon, senior Erin Belles and freshman Meg Parker each had two hits to pace the offense. Senior Kristen Towne added a hit.

Princeton's bats came alive in game two, pounding out 15 hits in the six inning victory. Three Tigers had at least three hits and Princeton slugged three home runs to earn the win for Liza Kuhn in her final collegiate game. Kuhn went the distance, surrendering five hits and two runs. Sammy Rother was tagged with the loss in going the distance for Cornell.

After Princeton scored one in the top of the first, Cornell scored two in the bottom half of the inning. Jenny Edwards doubled in a run to tie it and Taylor Goodin's RBI single was the go-ahead score.

That was the high-water mark for Cornell in the nightcap, as the Tigers regained the lead with two in the second, three in the third, one in the fifth and four in the sixth. Candy Button's three-run shot with two outs in the sixth effectively ended the contest.

Cornell returns to action on Tuesday, April 30 at 3 p.m. when it visits Syracuse for a doubleheader.
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