Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Auburn (NCAA Regionals)
Baseball Falls To Auburn In NCAA Opener
May 30, 2003 | Baseball
May 30, 2003
Box Score?|? Quotes
Auburn, Ala. - The Princeton baseball team fell 5-2 to Auburn Friday night in the first game of the Auburn Regional of the 2003 NCAA Baseball Tournament. Auburn, the fourth-national seed scored two runs in the second and fifth innings to defeat Princeton. Princeton returns to action tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. ET against Clemson.
Princeton threatened with back-to-back hits by Tim Lahey and Adam Balkan in the second inning but Auburn starter Levale Speigner was able to work out of the jam. Auburn then came to bat and strung together three hits and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead.
Auburn threatened again in the fourth inning, loading the bases on two hits and a walk, but Quillian was able to get three outs and escape the Auburn attack. Princeton responded in the top of the fifth by manufacturing a run to make the score 2-1. Mike Chernoff led off with a walk, but was called out at second on a fielder's choice by Eric Fitzgerald. After a pop-out, B.J. Szymanski singled through the right side to advance Fitzgerald to third. Fitzgerald came home when Clete Thomas' throw from right field got away from the catcher. Auburn bounced back in the bottom half of the inning, using back-to-back lead-off hits and a sacrifice fly to bring home two runs and claim a 4-1 advantage.
The Tigers clawed back within a run in the eighth. John Miller reached second when Thomas dropped a fly-out in right field. After a pitching change and a strike out, Andy Salini singled down the left field line to score Miller.
Quillian pitched six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and fell to 6-5. Boehle pitched the seventh and Thomas Pauly pitched the eighth.