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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Pennsylvania
Baseball Sweeps Penn In Ivy Opener
March 29, 2002 | Baseball
March 29, 2002
Box Score
PRINCETON, NJ - Princeton scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to come from behind and earn a 5-4 win over Gehrig Division opponent Pennsylvania in the opening game of the Ivy League season on Friday afternoon at Clark Field. The Tigers continued that momentum into game two, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 4-1 win. Princeton's winning streak now stands at four games, and the two wins move the Tigers to 6-11, 2-0 during Ivy play. The Quakers drop to 4-16, 0-2 in the league.
Princeton trailed 4-1 going into the bottom of the seventh inning of the opener. Eric Voelker stepped to the plate and was looking at a 0-2 count with one out but managed to get a walk out of the at bat. Tim Lahey jumped on the first pitch from Penn hurler Andrew McCreary and hit a triple to right center to score Tyler Hassen, who was pinch running for Voelker, and cut the Quakers lead to 4-2. Ryan Reich kept the inning going when he singled up the middle to score Lahey. Pinch hitter Steve Young calmly stepped to the plate and tripled to score Reich with the tying run. Captain Pat Boran capped the inning with a single to score Young with the winning run and the 5-4 win. The hot bats for the Tigers carried over into the second game as they scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Boran opened the inning with a bunt single. Balkan singled through the left side and Jon Miller plated two runs with a double to left center. Ryan Eldridge singled to centerfield to score Miller for the third run of the inning.
That is how the score would hold until Princeton added another run in the third. Eric Fitzgerald doubled down the leftfield line and scored on Miller's single to center.
The Quakers put a run on the board in the top of the seventh inning when Nate Moffie scored Nick Italiano with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Ryan Quillian got the start in the first game and pitched six innings in the no decision. The 2001 Ivy League Pitcher of the Year gave up six hits, four runs and recorded two strikeouts. Mark Siano came in to pitch the seventh inning and picked up the win, improving to 2-1 on the season. He gave up one hit in the seventh.
Davie Boehle evened his record at 1-1 with a win in the second game. He got the start for the Tigers and pitched five innings, allowing five hits and no runs while recording five strikeouts. Tom Rowland pitched the sixth and seventh innings, and gave up two hits and one run. Thomas Pauly earned his third save of the season by giving up three hits, no earned runs and recording two strikeouts in the eighth and ninth innings.
McCreary took the loss for Penn in the first game. He pitched 6.1 innings and gave up five hits, four earned runs. He added eight strikeouts in the loss. Dan Fitzgerald took the mound to start the second game for the Quakers. He pitched the first six innings and gave up nine hits, four runs and struck out four. Mike Mattern pitched the last two innings and gave up no hits.
This four-game series will conclude with tomorrow's doubleheader, which begins at 11:30 a.m. at Clarke Field. Princeton will travel to Rider for a 3 p.m. game on Wednesday, April 3 at 3 p.m. and will then return home for more Ivy League action. Harvard will come to town on Saturday, April 6 for a doubleheader starting at 11:30 a.m. Princeton will then host Dartmouth on Sunday, April 7 in a rematch of last year's Ivy League Championship series. Princeton won that series 2-1 to advance to the NCAA championships.