Princeton University Athletics
Saturday, May 6
Princeton, N.J.
1:00 PM
Princeton University
vs
Harvard
Players Mentioned
MI/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
1B/3B/C
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
3B/1B
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballPrinceton is 2 for 2 in the ILCS, winning in 2016 and 2008, both times against Harvard.
Softball Team Looks for Third ILCS Title as Series Begins Saturday at '95 Field
May 02, 2017 | Softball
Ivy League Championship Series | Harvard at Princeton | Saturday, 1 p.m. Doubleheader | Sunday, 1 p.m. (if necessary) | Live Stats | Live Video | Free Admission
Since the Ivy League Championship Series came to be in 2007, any time Princeton has been in it, it's been Harvard in the other dugout. This year's meeting ties it as the most common pairing in the 12 Ivy League Championship Series all-time, alongside Dartmouth-Penn (2013-15).Â
In 2008, the ILCS made its Class of 1895 Field debut as the Tigers swept Harvard in two. In 2016, Princeton made the trip to Cambridge, becoming the first road team to win the ILCS and doing so in three games. Five of the first 10 Ivy League Championship Series went to a third game.
A win this weekend would match Princeton with Harvard for most ILCSÂ titles at three. Harvard won its in 2007, 2011 and 2012. Along with Harvard's last two, two other schools have gone back-to-back, with Cornell winning in 2009 and 2010 and Dartmouth winning in 2014 and 2015. A win this weekend would also make Lisa Van Ackeren one of just three coaches in Ivy League history to win two Ivy titles in her first five seasons, joining a pair of Princeton predecessors in Cindy Cohen and Maureen Barron.
With the winner of the ILCS as the lone Ivy League Champion, the Tigers would claim their 19th Ivy League title. No other school has more than six (Harvard). The regular season winner was the Ivy League champion prior to 2007.
Princeton leads the all-time series against the Crimson 45-29, but since 1997, Harvard leads 29-18. Princeton's doubleheader sweep at Harvard earlier this season was the team's first road twinbill sweep of the Crimson since 1995.Â
In that sweep, the Tigers run-ruled Harvard 10-2 in the opening game behind five hits and a walk in the circle from Claire Klausner, three-hit games from Kaylee Grant and Alex Viscusi, and a 2-for-3 game by Megan Donahey. Grant had the game's lone home run, a two-run shot in the first, as Princeton pounded out 11 hits and took advantage from five walks from starter Taylor Cabe, who went four innings, and Olivia Giaquinto, who threw the final two. In the nightcap, Erica Nori (four innings) and Riley Wilkinson (three) combined to hold the Crimson to four hits while walking six. Kathleen Duncan took the loss for Harvard. Donahey, Grant, Mikayla Blaska and Keeley Walsh all had two-hit games in the back half of the twinbill.
Grant finished the doubleheader 5 for 7 (.714) with two doubles and a home run to slug 1.429 while adding a walk for a .750 OBP. Rhianna Rich was the only player with more than one hit for the Crimson across the doubleheader, going 4 for 6 with a double. Princeton outhit Harvard .431 to .214 in those two games, and the Harvard staff had an 8.62 ERA to 1.62 for Princeton.
On the season, the Tigers are hitting an Ivy-best .303, two spots ahead of Harvard (.285). Princeton's 4.17 ERA is one spot behind the Crimson (3.65). Marissa Reynolds (.450) and Harvard's Rich (.433) lead all Ivy regulars in batting average. In Ivy play, Princeton's .336 batting average led the league with Harvard third at .316, and the Tigers' 2.73 ERA in conference was also two spots in front of the Crimson at 3.80. Rich led all Ivy regulars during the conference slate with a .433 BA, two spots in front of Reynolds at .414. Donahey led the Ivy in stolen bases during conference play, swiping 10 in 12 tries.
Nationally, Princeton entered the week in the top 10 percent of the nation in fielding percentage (10th, .977) and doubles per game (18th, 1.54). Reynolds was fourth in the nation in doubles per game (0.41), sixth in slugging (.890), seventh in OBP (.563), eighth in batting average (.450) and tied for 15th in total doubles (16). Riley Wilkinson's four saves were tied for 13th in the nation, Allison Harvey was the 22nd-toughest player to strike out (one strikeout per 32 at-bats), Kylee Pierce was the 36th-toughest (one per 27.3), and Kaylee Grant stood 40th in hit-by-pitches per game at 0.28, among Princeton's other top-50 individual national rankings.
Harvard's top national ranking entering the week was 48th in triples per game at 0.23, and among top-50 individual rankings, Erin Lockhart was second in hit-by-pitches per game at 0.46 and 34th in OBP (.515), Rich was second in triples per game (0.18), fifth in total triples (seven), 17th-toughest to strikeout (one per 34 ABs), and 27th in batting average (.426), and Duncan was 49th with 1.34 walks allowed per seven innings.
Princeton Athletics Career Networking Breakfast (Fall 2025)
Wednesday, September 24
Reflections from the Princeton Athletics Class of 2025
Tuesday, May 27
Softball Highlights vs. Columbia & Brown, Ivy League Tournament, 5-10-25
Saturday, May 10
Softball Highlights vs. Harvard, Ivy League Tournament, 5-9-25
Friday, May 09