Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Pennsylvania (Game 2)
Baseball Feasts on Penn Pitching
April 24, 2004 | Baseball
April 24, 2004
Princeton, N.J. - Exactly one week after setting a Princeton record for runs in a doubleheader, the Tiger baseball team eclipsed that mark scoring 35 runs in a two-game sweep of Penn. In the first game, the lead changed hands five times before a 13-run sixth vaulted the Tigers from a three-run deficit to a lead they would not surrender en route to a 22-11 win. In the nightcap, the Tigers jumped ahead early and never look back, posting a 14-1 decision.
The first game was a sloppy back-and-forth game. Penn jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning on four unearned runs. Princeton chipped away with a pair of runs in the second and three in the third to claim its first lead of the afternoon. The big hit in the second was a two-RBI double by junior Adam Balkan and the key hit in the third was freshman Sal Iacono's RBi-double down the left field line. Princeton added a run in the fourth when sophomore Andrew Salini doubled home Balkan after he led off the inning with a double.
Penn struck back in the fifth with a pair of two-run homers to reclaim the lead at 8-6, but Princeton plated two runs in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at eight apiece. After a leadoff walk to senior Tim Lahey, senior Ryan Reich launched his first of three home runs on the afternoon well over the evergreens in right center. Penn jumped back on top in the sixth with three runs but couldn't hold on to the lead as Princeton sent 18 batters to the plate in the sixth and scored 13 runs on seven hits, four walks and a hit batter.
Key hits in the inning were Lahey's RBI-single, sophomore Matthew Becker's RBI-single, a sac fly by junior Will Venable, a two-RBI double by Iacono and Reich's second two-run long ball of the game.
Freshman Gavin Fabian struggled in the outing, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing 11 runs on 10 hits, although four of the runs allowed were unearned. Senior Brian Biegen pitched the final inning and a third and recorded the win to improve to 3-1 on the season. Penn's Remington Chin took the loss and is 1-4.
Game 2 was never in doubt as Princeton plated a pair of runs in both the first and second innings and never looked back. In the first, junior B.J. Szymanski tripled home senior Eric Fitzgerald to start the scoring and Szymanski then scored on a passed ball.
In the second, Princeton made it 4-0 Szymanski doubled home senior Steve Young and Salini singled home Szymanski. In the fourth Princeton made it 5-0 on freshman Aaron Prince's first collegiate home run, a solo shot, to right center. Penn tacked on a run in the fifth, also on a solo homer, but would not get any closer.
Princeton tacked on two runs in the sixth to make it 7-1 and then two more in the seventh. The runs in the seventh came when sophomore Zach Wendkos' double scored sophomore Stephen Wendell and Reich. Princeton wasn't done yet however and the Tigers added five runs in their final at bat to clinch the 14-1 win. Young, Fitzgeraldm Szymanski and Salini led off the inning with four straight singles. That scored two and left two on for Reich who connected with his third homer of the afternoon and fifth of the season to make the score 14-1.
Sophomore Erik Stiller cruised through eight innings allowing the one run on five hits. He struck out three and walked only one. Junior Worth Lumry pitched a scoreless ninth.
The Tigers and Quakers continues this series tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m.