Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Cornell (Game 2)
Baseball Splits Doubleheader at Cornell
May 01, 2005 | Baseball
May. 1, 2005
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Ithaca, N.Y. - The Princeton baseball team split an Ivy League doubleheader with Cornell Sunday afternoon at Hoy Field. Cornell won the opener by a score of 4-3 while the Tigers took the nightcap 7-6 in 10 innings. The loss in the opening game gave Cornell the Gehrig Division title as the Big Red finished a game up Princeton in the final standings.
In Game 1, Princeton (16-24, 10-10 Ivy) jumped to an early lead with an unearned run in the third inning. Sophomore Aaron Prince reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and then went to third on an error by the catcher. He scored on an RBI-groundout by senior Will Venable.
Cornell (17-20, 11-9) rebounded to take the lead with three runs in the fourth. Two infield singles and a single to right field loaded the bases with no outs. The first run scored on sac fly, the second scored on a suicide squeeze and the third scored on a triple to left field.
Princeton bounced back with two runs in the sixth inning. With an out, Venable singled to left and a single up the middle by junior Andrew Salini put two on. Junior Ryan Eldridge walked to load the bases and two runs scored when senior Adam Balkan singled through the left side. That evened the game at 3-3, but Cornell was able to plate an additional run in the sixth to go ahead 4-3. With two outs, Josh Foster worked a 3-2 walk after fouling off several pitches. He stole second and scored on a single by Seth Gordon.
Princeton threatened with a two-out rally in the seventh inning. With two away, senior Paul Ackerman entered as a pinch hitter and worked a full count walk. Prince was then hit to put two on and bring Venable to the plate. Venable made good contact towards right center, but the Cornell right fielder was able to track it down and seal the win.
Junior Erik Stiller pitched all six innings for Princeton and allowed four runs on eight hits. He fell to 6-2 on the season. Cornell reliever Jim Hyland earned the win.
The Tigers came out of the gates strong in the second game and took a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Sophomore Sal Iacono drew a leadoff walk and went to second on Balkan's single to left field. Junior Zach Wendkos then doubled off the wall in right center to plate the two runners. After the next two batters were retired, freshman Spencer Lucian was hit by a pitch. Prince then singled up the middle to scored Wendkos and Lucian went to third. He later scored when Venable lined a single to center.
Princeton extended the lead with two more runs in the third inning. Iacono hit a leadoff single to left center and reached second when junior Stephen Wendell was plunked with a pitch. A balk moved the runners up a base and a passed ball allowed Iacono to score and Wendell to reach third. Senior Paul Ackerman walked and a wild pitch on the fourth ball allowed Wendell to score and gave Princeton the 6-0 lead.
Cornell bounced back to cut the lead in half with a run in the third and two in the fourth. All three runs were unearned. In the third, Foster reached on an error and eventually came around to score, while in the fourth, William Pauly led off with a single and after another single by Hyland, both runners scored on a throwing error.
Cornell continued to inch back with a pair of runs in the seventh inning. With one out, Brian Kaufman reached on a single and scored on Matt Miller's double. Pauly was hit by a pitch and both he and Miller scored when Conor Kelly singled up the middle. The Big Red then pulled even in the eighth. Gordon drew a two-out walk and scored on Kaufman's double off the wall in right.
Tied up at six apiece, the game went into extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Wendkos put Princeton ahead when he led off the inning with a home run to left field. It was his third homer of the season and gave Princeton a 7-6 lead.
Sophomore Eric Walz pitched six innings and allowed three unearned runs on four hits, while striking out six. Senior Worth Lumry allowed two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. Freshman Steven Miller pitched an inning and a third and allowed a run. Senior Brian Kappel pitched a scoreless ninth and 10th to pick up the win and improve to 2-1.
Cornell's Blake Hamilton was on the hook for the first six Princeton runs. He allowed five hits and one run was unearned. Bryce Klinesteker pitched four innings of scoreless relief. Adam Loeding came on for the 10th and surrendered the home run to Wendkos. He fell to 0-1 with the loss.
Princeton completes the season with a non-conference game at home against Rider on Wednesday afternoon.