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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
William & Mary
Baseball Falls in Late Innings at William & Mary
March 11, 2005 | Baseball
March 11, 2005
Box Score
Williamsburg, Va. - William & Mary scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth to break open a 5-5 game and defeat the Princeton baseball team 11-6 Friday afternoon at Plumeri Park. Junior Andrew Salini led the Tiger offense with three hits in the game as the Tigers fall to 0-3 on the season.
Each team put runs on the scoreboard in the opening inning. The Tigers pushed one across int he top-half, but the Tribe added a pair in the bottomhalf to lead 2-1 after an inning. A lead-off single up the middle put sophomore Aaron Prince on first and he moved to second on senior Adam Balkan's groundout. A walk to sophomore Sal Iacono put runners on first and second, and the bases filled up when junior Andrew Salini singled to left field. Prince scored when the next batter, junior Ryan Eldridge, grounded out to first base. A two-out single to centerfield by Will Rhymes, following a walk to Bryan Morosky and a single by Brent McWhorter, in the bottom half of the first gave William & Mary the lead. After a scoreless second and third, in which both teams threatened with base runners, WIlliam & Mary used two walks, a single and a hit batter to plate a run and extend its lead to 3-1. The Tribe threatened again in the fifth inning as the first three batters reached to load the bases, but sophomore Eric Walz got a strikeout and a double play to end the inning and keep the score the Princeton deficit at two runs.
Princeton battled back in the top of the sixth to even the score at 3-3 on the strength of four singles and a sac fly. Salini started the rally with a single to left center after he fouled off five pitches on a 2-2 count. Eldridge singled to right field to put two on and senior Will Venable hit a bloop single to left field to score Salini. With two still on, junior Zach Wendkos singled through the left side to load the bases, and junior Stephen Wendell hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field to score Eldridge and tie the game at three.
The Tribe retook the lead in the seventh inning on a two-run homer off the bat of Kyle Padgett. Rhymes led off the inning with a walk. The lead only lasted for a few batters as the TIgers rebounded with two runs in the top of the eighth to make it 5-5. Wendkos reached on a fielder's choice and went to second on a wild pitch. After a walk by Wendell, junior Matthew Becker singled to left field to score Wendkos and make it 5-4. Another single by Prince up the middle scored Wendell to knot the score at five apiece. The Tigers loaded the bases, but were unable to push another run across.
That hurt the Tigers as William & Mary reassumed the two run lead with its second two-run home run in as many innings to start off the eighth. Chris Rahl walked, stole second, and scored when Mike DeCarlo homered off the left field scoreboard. The Tribe added four more runs in the inning on Chad Murray's grand slam.
The Tigers threatened to get back into the game in the top of the ninth, loading the bases on a single by Salini and a pair of walks to Eldridge and Wendkos. Eldridge was replaced on the bases by Venable during a fielder's choice. Salini scored on a fielding error off a grounder by Wendell to the Tribe shortstop. Princeton was unable to plate any more runs in the inning as the final score was 11-6.
Princeton's starting pitcher, sophomore Wills Sweney, pitched four innings and allowed three runs on three hits, five walks and two hit batters. He made way for Walz, who pitched a scoreless fifth. Freshman Christian Staehely came on in the sixth and pitched two innings in his first collegiate apearance. He allowed two runs on four hits. Senior Chad Tongue came on in the eighth and allowed six runs and took the loss for the Tigers.
Forrest Cory pitched seven innings for William & Mary and allowed three runs on nine hits. Jake Rule allowed two runs in the eighth and Joe Mante had to come on in relief in the ninth as Rule loaded the bases. He was able to get the final two outs. Rule earned the win.
The two teams play the second game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.