Princeton defense comes up big against Spring Creek

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 2, 2014 1:52 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- Defense is the cornerstone to building a championship contender in any sport.

Princeton proved it Thursday evening.

The Bulldogs turned two double plays, threw out a runner at home and cruised to a 5-1 victory on the Carolina 1-A Conference softball scene.

"We usually step up and play defense pretty well," said PHS head coach Terry Braswell, who turned in an error-free performance behind starting pitcher Tori Paul and reliever Hailey Wood.

"Defense is one of our stronger suits. If we can get our bats to come around like our defense, we'll be great."

Catcher Kelsey Peedin threw out a runner at third base, and tagged out another runner at home to complete an inning-ending double play in the fourth. The Bulldogs turned their second twin killing in the sixth with Wood inside the circle.

Peedin finished with 10 putouts on the night.

The Gators (9-4 overall, 6-3 CC) managed four hits -- two each by Alanna Price and Marriner. Price drove in the team's lone run with a two-out single in the first inning.

Paul and Wood combined for nine strikeouts.

"They were very good (defensively) and that's what we expect when we always play Princeton," SC head coach Lester Boltinhouse said. "We expect good pitching. We expect good hitting."

Braswell, however, expressed discontent in the post-game huddle with his team's discipline at the plate. SC right-hander Rachel McCollum got the Bulldogs to chase several pitches throughout the night, which allowed the right-hander to escape trouble on numerous occasions.

Princeton batted 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine potential runs on base. The Gators' defense committed a season-low one error and first baseman Hailey Jones logged 10 putouts.

"I was disappointed in our pitch selection," Braswell said.

The Bulldogs (11-4, 8-0) scored two first-inning runs on a delayed steal and Wood's double up the middle. A wild pitch and Taylor Carroll's two-out single accounted for two fourth-inning runs.

Wood connected on a lead-off triple to start the fifth and touched the plate on Savanna Massengill's base knock to center field.

Princeton collected eight hits on the night.