Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Yale (Game 1)
Baseball Splits Doubleheader at Yale
April 09, 2004 | Baseball
April 9, 2004
Box Score
West Haven, Conn. - The Princeton baseball team split a pair of Ivy League doubleheaders Fridat afternoon at Yale Field. In Game 1, junior Ross Ohlendorf took a perfect game into the final inning, but Yale rallied for a 2-1 win. In the nightcap, it was the Tigers turn to rally as they posted a 6-5 victory. Princeton is now 13-11 overall and 2-4 in the Ivy League.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when senior Ryan Reich deposited the first pitch he saw from Yale starter Mike Mongiardini over the wall in left field. The Tigers added two more singles in the inning off the bats of sophomore Stephen Wendell and Matthew Becker but could not push across any additional runs in the inning. The Tigers threatened again in the fourth as freshman Sal Iacono drew a walk and Wendell hit his second single of the game, but Mongiardini was ablt to get an inning-ending double play to get out of the jam. Junior Ross Ohlendorf cruised through the first six innings as he carried a perfect game into the seventh inning. Justin Ankney led off the inning with a hit to nullify Ohlendorf's bid to be perfect. He Ankney advanced to second on a sac bunt and scored when Marc Sawyer's single found it's way through the middle. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases, but Ohlendorf was able to get the second out on a strikeout. That brought the count to 2-2 and pinch-runner Zac Bradley stole home to lift the Bulldogs to the 2-1 win.
Ohlendorf fell to 4-2 with the loss despite being perfect through six innings. He ended the day allowing two runs on two hits and striking out nine. Mongiardini picked the win for Yale, his first of the season.
The Tigers rebounded in Game 2 to post a 6-5 win and earn a split in the doubleheader. Yale opened the game by taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first Justin Ankney hit a lead-off single and advanced to second on a groundout. He scored on the following at-bat on a Princeton error at second base.
The Tigers roared back in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. Junior Paul Ackerman led off the inning with a walk and scored when sophomore Zach Wendkos hit a home run to right field on the first pitched he faced form Yale starter Jon Hollis. It was Wendkos' second homer of the season.
The Bulldogs however rebounded and took a 3-2 lead in the third on a two-run blast of their own. Ankney led off the inning with a single and he scored on Marc Sawyer homer to right-center. The score stayed at 3-2 into the sixth when Princeton scored three runs to take a 5-3 lead.
Sophomore Will Venable led off the inning by hitting the first pitch through the left side. Ackerman then dropped a single into right field. Freshman Sal Iacono came to bat and hit Princeton's third consecutive single to scored Venable and tiw the score at 3-3. After a sac bunt to move the runners to second and third, senior Steve Young singled to center field to bring home the two runs.
The Tiger lead did not last long though as Yale responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning to knot the game up at five runs apiece. Back-to-back walks and a single loaded the bases and runs scored on a walk and a fielder's choice.
The score remained tied at five until the last inning when the TIgers pushed across the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run. Freshman Aaron Prince led off with a double off te wall in right field. He advanced to third on single by Young and scored when senior Eric Fitzgerald hit into a fielder's choice.
Sophomore Erik Stiller started the game and pitched five innings, allowing five runs, four of which were earned, on six hits while striking out six batters. Senior Brian Biegen tossed three and a third in relief and earned his second win of the year as he allowed two hits, struck out two, and most importantly held the Bulldogs off the scoreboard. Junior Brian Kappel got the final two outs and earned the save. Ironically, the game ended when Zac Bradley was thrown out trying to steal second.
The Tigers return to action tomorrow afternoon at Brown.