.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Brown (Game 1)
Baseball Rallies in Second Game For Split at Brown
April 10, 2004 | Baseball
April 10, 2004
Final Stats
Providence, R.I. - The Princeton baseball team earned an 8-7 win in the nightcap to split an Ivy League doubleheader at Brown Sunday afternoon. The Bears posted a 14-6 win in the day's first game, but in Game 2, Ryan Reich doubled home Will Venable in the ninth to lift the Tigers to the win. Princeton is now 14-12 on the season and 3-5 in the Ivy League.
The Tigers used a pair of Brown fielding miscues aggressive base-running to turn take a 2-0 lead in their first at bat. After retiring the first two batters, Brown allowed B.J. Szymanski to reach on an error by first baseman Danny Hughes. Szymanski stole second and scored when junior Adam Balkan reached on a groundball that was booted by Brown second baseman Robert Deeb. Balkan the advanced to third on a single off the bat of Will Venable. With a 2-2 count in the next at bat, Brown pitcher Sam Jennings caught Venable sneaking off first and caught him in a run down, but while attention was focused between first and second, Balkan bolted for home. The throw to the plate beat him, but Brown's catcher was unable to handle the throw and the Tigers went ahead 2-0 on a pair of unearned runs. Brown got one run back in the second inning by mixing together a double by Hughes and a Princeton error. In their following at bat, the Bears got to Princeton starter Eric Walz and were able to score 10 runs in the inning to take an 11-2 lead after three innings of play. Brown's 10 runs came on seven hits, two Tiger errors, two walks and a hit batter. Deeb, Chris Contrino and Bobby Wiginton each hit a two-run single in the inning. Brown added two runs in the fourth when Jeff Nichols hit a two-run homer.
The Tigers offense woke up late, putting four runs on the board in the top of the seventh to make the final score 14-6. Paul Ackerman reached on an error to lead off and went to third on a single by Zach Wendkos. Steve Young singled to score Ackerman and Wendkos came home on a fielder's choice by Szymanski. Adam Balkan then scored Young and Szymanski on a double to center field.
Walz took the loss and fell to 2-2 on the season. Michael Zaret and Worth Lumry each pitched in relief. Jennings posted the win and improved his record to 2-2.
In Game 2, the Tigers looked to rebound from its loss in the first game and jumped on top 2-0 in the second inning. Tim Lahey led off with a single through the left side and scored when Ryan Reich hit a two-out two-run home run into the net just beyond the wall in left field. It was Reich's second home run of the season and second in as many days.
Brown rallied back to take a 4-2 lead after three innings. Chrs Jernigan reached base after getting hit with a pitch and Paul Christian's single put two on base. Both runners scored when Danny Hughes doubled to right field. Hughes then scored on a triple by Devin Thomas, who made it home on an error as ran to third to make the score 4-2 for the Bears.
The Tigers cut the Brown lead in half in the fourth when they produced a run despite not having a hit. Lahey led off the inning by reaching after he was hit by a pitch. Will Venable and Reich both drew walks to load the bases and Lahey scored on a passed ball.
Brown extended its lead to four runs with a three-run fourth. Nichols his a lead-off double and scored on an error after Chris Contrino reached on a fielder's choice. Contrino advanced to third when Lahey tried to pick him off. He scored on the next play, a sac fly off the bat of Jernigan. Paul Christian then hit a solo homer to centerfield to give the Bears the four-run lead.
Princeton chipped a run off the lead in the fifth inning. Adam Balkan reached on an error at first base and then went to second on a passed ball. He scored when the next batter, B.J. Szymanski, hit a 3-2 pitch to center for a double. Szymanski advanced to third on a groundout by Lahey and scored when Brown's third baseman, Contrino, committed a fielding error on a grounder by Venable. That made the score 7-5 in favor of Brown.
The Tigers wideled another run off of Brown's lead in the sixth. With one away, Matthew Becker legged out an infield single and advanced to second Steve Young's single to right field. After Princeton's second out, Szymanski singled to right field for his second RBI of the game as Becker scored from second to make the score 7-6.
The Tigers put a run on the board in the eighth inning to draw even at 7-7. Becker drew a lead-off walk and singles from Young and Balkan load the bases for Szymanski. Szymanski hit a grounder to third baseman. He reached on the fielder's choice with Becker coming home and Young getting called out at third.
Tied entering the ninth, the Tigers came through in the ninth with a run to take an 8-7 lead, Princeton's first lead since the second inning. Venable led off the inning with a single to the gap in right center and he advanced to third when Brown reliever Harris Frankel balked. Venable then scored the go-ahead run when Reich doubled off the wall in left center for his third RBI of the game.
Princeton starter Gavin Fabian went six innings and gave up seven runs, two of which were unearned, on 10 hits. He walked one and struck out four. Brian Kappel came on in relief in the seventh inning and shut down the Bears over the final three innings to get the win. He struck out five over three innings and held Brown hitless. He is now 1-2 on the year.
The Tigers resume action on Tuesday afternoon when they visit Seton Hall for a non-conference game at 3 p.m.