ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell softball (13-11, 4-5 Ivy) will welcome Ivy leading Princeton (14-13, 8-1 Ivy) for a three-game weekend series at Niemand-Robison Softball Field starting on Saturday with a double header.
SERIES INFO
vs. Princeton
Saturday, April 12
Double Header – 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Live Stats || Watch (G1) || Watch (G2)
Sunday, April 13
12:30 p.m.
Live Stats || Watch
SCOUTING PRINCETON
This will be the 86th meeting between the Tigers and Big Red. Last series Cornell took one game off Princeton in 6-4 victory on the road. In the past three series Princeton has won the series 2-1 dating back to the Covid break.
At 8-1, Princeton leads the Ivy by two games over 6-3 Columbia as the middle of the field is tied up.
Princeton entered the week ranking sixth in the nation in triples per game, at 0.44. The Tigers also led the league in homers, with 29, homers per game, at 1.07, triples, with 13, total bases, with 378, and slugging percentage, at .519.
Princeton and Cornell were first and second in either order in batting average (Cornell .317, Princeton .316) and on-base percentage (Cornell .406, Princeton .404). Individually, the teams have the top two players in the league in OBP, with Karis Ford at .533 and Lauren Holt at .524. Julia Dumais co-led the league in walks (23).
Princeton has nine players hitting above .300 led by Karis Ford (.388) and Allison Ha (.378).
In the circle, Brielle Wright leads the Tigers with 72.2 innings pitched and 64 strikeouts. Princeton's staff has a league-best 2.19 ERA in Ivy play, with all three pitchers.
IVY STANDINGS
After five non- conference games on Wednesday, no Ivy standings moved. Even after a big shake up weekend in the standings, Princeton is still on top with only one conference loss to Dartmouth.
Cornell is still at the top of the league with a .317 batting average and on base percentage .406 with Ella Harrod in the top 10 individually holding a .358 batting average with 29 hits.
Brown has the lowest ERA for pitchers led by Alexis Guevara with a 2.25 individually.
Princeton has the second-best batting average right behind Cornell at .316 with both Allison Ha (.378) and Sonia Zhang (.376) in the top 10 individually.
Lauren Holt now solely has the second most home runs in the Ivy League with eight, is first in RBIs per game (1.04) and walks drawn per game (.91). Ella Harrod is leading the conference in assists per game at shortstop with 2.48 per game. Kyrie Denny has allowed the least amount of walks per game averaging 1.54.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Princeton and Cornell entered the week as the top two teams in the Ivy in RPI, with Princeton at 91 and Cornell at 119.
Emma Harshberger has proven to be one of the most disciplined hitters in the game, ranking 18th in the nation in Toughest to Strike Out, averaging an incredible 37.0 at-bats per strikeout. Lauren Holt has showcased patience, ranking 14th in the country in Walks per Game with an average of 0.91.
Ella Harrod continues to anchor the defense, ranking 20th nationally in Assists per Game at 2.48.
MORGAN'S MESSAGE GAME
Saturday's games will recognize the Morgan's Message organization, a mental health resource for student athletes that builds a community and provides advocacy. Its strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. They aim to expand mental health dialogue by normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone.
For more information and resources visit morgansmessage.org.
LAST SERIES
Cornell softball started the four-game homestretch with a midweek victory over I-81 non-conference opponent Syracuse on Wednesday.
Lauren Holt added her first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth after being walked in the second. Charlize Cai laid down a sacrifice bunt to move pinch runner Hailey Pirkey to second base in hopes of scoring, but the Cuse added the final two out to retire the inning.
Still holding at 1-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, Holt lifted her eighth home run over the left field fence to break the tie. Cornell would hold the Orange in the top of the seventh to take the game 2-1.
UP NEXT
Cornell will travel across the street for a midweek double header against Ithaca College on Tuesday April 13 starting at 3:30 p.m.
