The Princeton Lady Tigers boast a lineup that, while not high on power, should be one to put the ball in play and use their speed to pressure defenses. That formula played out for PHS on Monday night, as the Lady Tigers used a trio of four-run innings (second, fourth, and fifth) to “run away” from Milan and win 12-2, in a game broadcast on KTTN FM 92.3.
The visitors from Milan, looking for back-to-back GRC East wins, opened the scoring in the first, as Janissa Martinez singled, moved to second on a two-out walk to Erin Richardson, and scored on a single by Lexi May.
Princeton’s bottom of the lineup proved especially productive all night against Milan right-hander Cady Pauley, with the bottom of the second inning opening with a single by Becca Kile and a single by Sara Spencer. Kylie Willett followed with an infield single, with Kile and Spencer both scoring on a throwing error. Kennedy Norton singled Willett to third base, with Willett scoring on a wild pitch, and Norton sent home on a ground ball to shortstop by Lauren Krohn.
Milan, down 4-1, rallied in the top of the third inning, with Pauley scorching a double into the left-center field gap, scoring Katie Banner all the way from first base. However, the lead stayed at 4-2, with Pauley caught in a run-down between third and home, resulting in a tag-out, while Lexi May struck out to extinguish the threat.
Princeton’s four-run fourth pushed the lead to 8-2, with Willett and Norton receiving back-to-back wins to open the inning, followed by a Krohn single, a Lacie Lewis walk, and three groundballs in the infield. Willett scored on a wild pitch, Norton on Krohn’s single, Krohn scored on an outfield fielding error, with Lewis scoring on a fielder’s choice grounder.
In the home fifth, Norton, the second baseman for the Lady Tigers, came up with the bases loaded and no outs, looking to finish her big night with a “flourish”. Tom Johnson had the play-by-play call:
A wild pitch with Krohn at the plate scored Norton with the game ending run.
Krohn worked five innings for the win for Princeton, battling wildness throughout her night, allowing three hits but walking six Lady Wildcats. Fellow freshman Cady Pauley took the loss for the Lady ‘Cats, walking seven Lady Tigers in 4-plus innings of work.
Princeton, with the win, improves to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in GRC Eastern Division play, dropping Milan’s mark to 1-5 overall and 1-4 in conference competition. Princeton will host Polo, with Milan at Trenton on Tuesday night.
