Princeton hasn't had much luck against Rockridge recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Tigers will square off against the Rockets at 4:30 p.m. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Princeton comes in on four and Rockridge on 12.
On Thursday, Princeton made easy work of Hall and carried off a 12-2 win. The result was nothing new for the Tigers, who have now won ten matches by six runs or more so far this season.
Piper Hansen made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run while striking out six over six innings pitched. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 12 consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in two of her four plate appearances with one stolen base and one run.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kelsea Klingenberg, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with three stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Ellie Harp, who earned two RBI, one run, and two stolen bases.
Princeton always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .526. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Hall only posted an OBP of .240.
Rockridge came out on top against Orion on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive 12-run fourth inning. The Rockets never let the Chargers get on the board and left with a 15-0 victory. The result was nothing new for the Rockets, who have now won 11 contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Tatum Lowe looked comfortable as she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit over four innings pitched.
At the plate, Emilee Black was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with five RBI, one run, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Stella Riley, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, two doubles, and two RBI.
Rockridge's win was their 19th straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 20-3. Those road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.4 runs on average over those games. As for Princeton, their record is now 13-9.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Princeton has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .452. However, it's not like Rockridge struggles in that department as they've averaged .453. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Princeton might still be hurting after the 10-0 loss they got from Rockridge in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Tigers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
