KEY HIT: Princeton University softball player Keeley Walsh follows through on a swing in recent action. Last Saturday, freshman Walsh slugged a homer to account for Princeton’s only run in a 2-1 loss to Longwood in an elimination game at Harrisonburg (Va.) regional in the NCAA tournament. The loss left the Tigers with a final record of 23-28. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

ESPN has made a commitment to the NCAA softball tournament, providing wall-to-wall coverage of the event, starting by broadcasting hours of regional action in the first weekend of the event.

In recent years, members of the Princeton University softball team have been among the interested viewers of the tourney.

Last weekend, however, Princeton got to take the field in the NCAAs as it competed in the Harrisonburg (Va.) regional on the heels of beating Harvard in the Ivy League Championship Series earlier this month.

“A lot of them were really excited to experience that for the first time,” said Van Ackeren.

“They were looking forward to seeing what the environment was going to be like. Everyone was really looking forward to a competitive regional. I think they felt like they belonged there, they were just looking forward to getting on the field and showing them what we can do.”

With 11 players taking exams on the morning of the opener against host James Madison University last Friday, Princeton faced an extra hurdle before competing on the diamond in the double-elimination event.

“It was not ideal by any means but we are student athletes and that is what we do,” said Van Ackeren.

“They handle it so incredibly well. I am always impressed with the way that our kids balance their lives. They did their best to take it in stride and this is the situation and we can do it. It was just put our nose to the grindstone and get it done.”

The Tigers fought hard to get it done against JMU but a five-run outburst powered by a grand slam in the third inning proved to be decisive as the Dukes posted a 7-0 victory.

“They came out excited to play, they came out with some fire,” said Van Ackeren.

“JMU is a really tough team; their pitching is phenomenal and we knew that coming in. They threw Megan Good against us, their ace, which i think showed a great deal of respect to our hitters. They had a big inning but ultimately I thought it was competitive early on. It was just a couple of walks and a big hit that came back to bite us.”

A day later in an elimination game against Longwood, Princeton competed hard, taking a 1-0 lead on a fourth inning homer by freshman Keeley Walsh before ultimately succumbing 2-1.

“I think the team feels that we should win that game, which is very encouraging,” said Van Ackeren, whose squad ended the season with a 23-28 record.

“You never want to walk away from a regional, thinking no one expected us to win and we didn’t so no harm no foul. I think a lot of them felt as though we should have won that game. Many were appropriately disappointed by not winning that game which I think is evidence of good things to come. The young guys got a taste of what it is like to be in a region and they want some more. Having that experience so early in their career, they are going to be committed to getting back there and committed to doing whatever it takes, not just to get there but to compete even better than we did this year.”

The commitment and talent of Princeton’s younger players was exemplified by Walsh’s homer.

“No one deserves it more than that kid; she has worked so hard and overcome a lot this season,” said Van Ackeren.

“She had a significant ankle injury that kept her out of the lineup for the vast majority of our pre-Ivy season. Then she came in and got an honorable mention All-Ivy for her performance. She had the highlight of our offensive performance of the weekend at the NCAAs. That kid is so humble, she has a heart of gold. We were excited for her for a number of reasons.”

It was exciting for Van Ackeren to see her seniors culminate their careers with an NCAA appearance.

“They were a huge reason we got there in the first place,” said Van Ackeren, noting that two seniors, Emily Viggers and Kayla Bose, took part in a final rally in the Longwood loss.

“Emily leads off the last inning with a pinch hit single up the middle on a really well struck ball and then we have second and third with no outs. We couldn’t score the run with our first two outs and, of course, Kayla comes up with two outs and two on and the go ahead run on second. She smiled before she walked out for her at bat because she knew the game had called her to be in that moment. Whatever happens, you are meant to be in this spot so just have a good at-bat. She has worked hard and that opportunity for her to be in that moment was very cool even though the outcome wasn’t what she wanted. It was a very dramatic ending.”

Senior pitcher Shanna Christian ended things on a high note, going four and two-thirds innings in the finale with three strikeouts and two earned runs on five hits.

“Shanna started both games in the regional for a reason,” said Van Ackeren.

“She has battled so many injuries, that kid is as tough as nails and she feels proud finishing her career in a regional like that, doing well against those teams.”

In Van Ackeren’s view, her returning players will be putting in extra work over the offseason to get back to the regionals.

“For some of them it starts over the summer,” said Van Ackeren. “It starts with what did I do well this season and what do I need to do in order to improve. I think the workout packet, with our lifting and conditioning, some of them are going to attack even harder, just understanding what is required to be successful in the league next year and beyond.”