Princeton University
Rider
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Hernandez's Stellar Contest Leads Princeton Over Rider, 7-2
April 20, 2016 | Baseball
Box Score
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Behind junior Nick Hernandez's three-run blast in the first inning, the Princeton baseball team won over its in-state rival, the Rider Broncs, 7-2 at Sonny Pittaro Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Hernandez finished the non-conference tilt with three hits and two runs scored. Freshman Jesper Horsted nabbed three hits at the top of the order and extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Senior Andrew Christie secured three hits as well. Freshman Tanner Kliewer went five innings and gave up just two hits to pick up his first collegiate win.
Princeton jumped all over Rider in the first inning. Horsted led off the game with a double. Following a ground out and hit-by-pitch, Hernandez deposited a long fly ball over the right field fence, giving Princeton a 3-0 lead.
Hernandez's quality day continued as he began the third frame with an infield hit and quickly stole second. Several hitters later, Hernandez raced home on a knock from junior Paul Tupper. Tupper also swiped second base and then came around to score on a single from Christie.
Rider tacked on its first run in the bottom of the third inning on an unearned run. The home team's Jake Bender had a RBI single in the fifth to set the score at 6-2. Princeton closed the scoring with an unearned tally in the ninth. Sophomore Ben Gross retired six of the eight Broncs hitters he faced in relief of Kliewer. Sophomore Nick Brady and junior Chris Giglio also threw scoreless innings to finish the game.
Princeton will travel to Columbia this weekend for a four-game set in New York. The Tigers lead the Gehrig Division of the Ivy League by three games over Cornell and Penn. Columbia trails Princeton by four games. The first game of the weekend will begin at 12 p.m. on Saturday.