With Ivy League play just around the corner, some teams find themselves shaking off the jet lag from their spring trips, while other teams hope to continue their fun in the sun back home.
Cornell
If the non-conference schedule is an accurate representation of how teams will fare when Ivy play starts on April 8, Cornell would be an early favorite to tear things up this spring. Aside from being the defending Ivy League champ, the Big Red has cruised to a 12-3 record, with an active three game win streak to boot.
As if that's not enough, Cornell's Nicole Zitarelli, the current Ivy League pitcher of the week, has jumped out to a 8-1 start. Zitarelli has 34 strikeouts in 58.2 innings pitched so far, including an eight-strikeout performance in a 9-2 over Central Connecticut.
Zitarelli and the Cornell pitching staff are backed up by an incredible offense, including CF Charlotte Bombach, 3B/OF Julie Staub, and C/OF Annette Sheppard all of whom are batting over .300 this season.
Yale
Yale looked to be in trouble after a 1-9 spring break trip to Orlando, but have bounced back nicely to win seven of their last ten. Current Ivy rookie of the week Jesseka Bartholomew has been a driving offensive force, batting .302 and leading the Bulldogs in RBI with 12.
Senior 2B Kathy Ching is another player to keep your eye on; the senior became Yale's all-time hits leader on March 7 against St. Xavier with a bunt single in the seventh inning.
Pennsylvania
Although the Quakers are off to a modest start at 8-12, they have a powerhouse in Ivy League player of the week Jen Moore. The sophomore third baseman is batting an impressive .443 with a .656 slugging percentage so far.
Moore leads or is tied for the team lead in eight offensive categories, and has already totaled 10 multi-hit games.
Stay on the lookout for freshman hurler Becky Ranta. The right-hander already has five wins in nine starts, including three shutouts and a one-hitter in her collegiate debut.
Princeton
Princeton went 3-0 in pool play in the Princeton Invitational before falling to Boston College in the championship game 6-4 on March 26.
Senior Sarah Peterman allowed just a single earned run in 17.1 innings pitched and 18 strikeouts during the tournament.
Brown
When it rains on the Bears, it pours: literally. Brown has already lost six games due to rainouts this season.
Junior 3B/1B Tami Parrot has provided a little sunshine for the Bears, batting .429 through nine games.
Harvard
It may sound impressive that Suzanne Guy has pitched all of Harvard's wins so far this season, but the fact remains those wins only account for two of the last twelve.
Harvard has obviously wronged the scheduling gods somehow, facing tough competition including the likes of Fresno State and Texas.
Guy leads the team in strikeouts with 37 and ERA with a 2.69 mark.
Columbia
Allison Buehler pitched a four-hitter in Columbia's first softball victory ever, a 2-1 win over Lehigh.
Catcher Rayanne Bastian and second baseman Danielle Capece lead the team offensively, batting .357 and .346 respectively. Capece also has six doubles and is 4-for-4 on stolen bases thus far.
In their first year as a Division I program, the Lions come to Hanover on April 8 to kick off the Ivy League schedules for both teams.
