RALLY TIME: Princeton University softball player Nicole ­Ontiveros, right, celebrates after scoring a run in action earlier this spring. Last Saturday, senior centerfielder Ontiveros stroked a key RBI single to help Princeton rally for a 4-3 win over Penn and a doubleheader split. A day later, though, the Tigers were swept by the Quakers 4-1 and 5-1 as they fell to 12-23 overall and 6-6 in Ivy play. In upcoming action, Princeton hits the road for doubleheaders at Lehigh on April 18 and at Columbia on April 21 and 22. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Nicole Ontiveros is trying to get the most out of every moment this spring in her final campaign with the Princeton University softball team.

“It adds an extra element to the game, knowing this is the last time I am going to play,” said senior centerfielder Ontiveros. “I just try to go all out in everything I do.”

Last Saturday in the third inning of Game 2 against visiting Penn, Ontiveros faced a big time at-bat.

With Princeton having lost to the Quakers 8-0 in Game 1 and trailing 2-0 in the nightcap, Ontiveros came to the plate with a runner on second and the Tigers in danger of falling out of contention for the Ivy League South Division title.

“I just wanted to get that run home,” recalled Ontiveros. “I was up there and I was thinking I need to get a hit, there was no other option. I had to do it.”

Ontiveros came through, slapping a single up the middle to narrow the gap to 2-1. Her clutch hitting changed the tone of the contest as Princeton scored two runs in the fourth and added another in the fifth on the way to a 4-3 victory.

“Everyone started getting right on her, line-driving everywhere,” said Ontiveros, reflecting on the comeback win. “We definitely know there is a sense of urgency because we have to win these games. It is really important right now.”

A day later, though, the Tigers weren’t able to come through as they got swept by Penn 4-1 and 5-1 to move to 12-23 overall and 6-6 in Ivy play. Princeton now stands third in the Ivy’s South Division, trailing Cornell (19-16 overall, 10-2 Ivy) and Penn (23-14, 8-4 Ivy).

Coming off a 2011 season which saw Princeton stumble to a 7-13 league mark, Ontiveros sees a renewed intensity around the Tigers this spring.

“I think the heart on the team this year is a lot different,” said Ontiveros, a native of Laguna Niguel, Calif. who is hitting .319 with a team-high 36 hits.

“We have a lot of freshmen that are really aggressive and really love the game. We are just a lot louder this year. Everyone really, really wants to win.”

For Ontiveros, the journey from her freshman year to this spring has been special.

“It’s awesome being a senior, starting freshman year and going through all the years so differently,” said Ontiveros, who is planning to go to medical school after graduation and aspires to be a plastic surgeon.

“It is great being a leader on the team and just getting to help my teammates with the experience I have had.”

As she heads into the final weeks of her college softball career, Ontiveros is hoping to go out with a great
experience.

“I am really proud of us that we came back and we didn’t let the first loss get us down which I think shows a lot about this team,” said Ontiveros, who will look to keep up her hot hitting when Princeton hits the road for doubleheaders at Lehigh (28-16, 11-1 Patriot League) on April 18 and Columbia (10-25 overall, 4-8 Ivy) on April 21 and 22.

“The fight is there and I think that is the main difference between last year’s team and this year’s team. We won’t give up ever.”