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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Western Carolina
Western Carolina Rallies Past Princeton for Extra-Innings Win
March 19, 2006 | Baseball
March 19, 2006
Box Score
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina scored seven runs over the final five innings of its baseball game against Princeton on Sunday afternoon to erase an early 7-0 deficit, then came back from an 8-7 lead in the 12th inning to post a 10-8 win against the Tigers at Hennon Stadium. Princeton was one out away from the win in the bottom of the ninth, but an error allowed WCU to extend the inning and ultimately win the game.
Princeton took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. After a one-out walk to junior Aaron Prince, senior Andrew Salini doubled to put two runners on base. Both runs scored on a two-run double by senior Zach Wendkos, his first of three hits, and his first two of five RBIs.
The Tigers pushed their advantage to three with a run in the top of the third. Salini had a leadoff walk and junior Sal Iacono followed by being hit by a pitch. The two moved up 90 feet on a bunt by Wendkos and Salini scored on freshman Andrew Doupe's RBI-groundout.
In the fourth, Princeton took a 7-0 lead. Freshman Dan Degeorge had a one-out single and two batters later, Salini brought him home with a double to right-center. Iacono was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game and Wendkos cleared the bases with a three-run blast to left-center for his fourth homer of the season and second of the series. Western Carolina got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Despite striking out, Andy John reached on a wild pitch. Then, Barrett Shaft walked, Strausbaugh was hit by a pitch and Murphy walked to bring home John. With the bases still loaded, Princeton junior starter Eric Walz avoided further damage by getting a fly out to end the inning. Walz pitched well, but did not factor in the decision. He pitched six innings, allowing just one hit and one run with five walks and six strikeouts.
In the bottom of the seventh Western trimmed its deficit to three (7-4). The Catamounts used three consecutive hits to score two runs. Shaft started things with a single then Strausbaugh had an RBI double followed by an RBI single by Trey McDaniel. With the bases loaded and one out, Tim Hallam was hit by a pitch for Western's third run of the inning.
Western tacked on another run in the bottom of the eighth to make the score 7-5. Shaft had a leadoff single and Strausbaugh followed with an RBI double.
The Cats tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Hallam walked and John was hit by a pitch. Princeton looked to end the game on a ground ball by Grey Gregory, but an error allowed Western to load the bases. Shaft plated Hallam and John with a double to right. However, on the play, Gregory was thrown out at home for the final out, forcing extra innings.
Princeton broke the tie in the top of the 12th thanks to back-to-back doubles by senior Matthew Becker and DeGeorge. The Tigers would eventually load the bases, but a ground out ended the threat.
In the bottom half of the inning, Strasbaugh hit a one-one double and he scored when Murphy doubled an out later. That tied the game and WCU won it when Greene hit a two-run walk-off home run.
The loss was charged to sophomore Steven Miller. He pitched five and a third and allowed six runs on seven hits.
The loss dropped Princeton to 3-7 on the season. Princeton is back in action tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at Davidson.