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Princeton University Athletics
Harvard Takes Two From Princeton Baseball
April 01, 2006 | Baseball
April 1, 2006
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
PRINCETON - Harvard jumped to 2-0 leads in the first innings of both games as it swept the Princeton baseball team in an Ivy League doubleheader on Saturday at Clarke Field. The Crimson took the opener 4-1 and the nightcap 8-2. Sophomore Micah Kaplan led the Tigers offensively with two hits in each game.
Harvard scored all the runs it would need in the first inning of Game 1. Matt Vance hit a leadoff double and went to third on a fly out, then scored on Steffan Wilson's home run to left center. The Tigers got a run back in the bottom of the first when freshman Dan Degeorge reached third when Harvard pitcher Shawn Haviland overthrew the first baseman on a ground ball. He scored when senior Andrew Salini doubled down the right field line.
Despite the run, Haviland had all the run support he needed as he picked up the win and improved to 2-2. He allowed one run on seven hits in seven innings, while striking out seven. Harvard added insurance runs in the second inning and fifth innings.
Junior Erik Stiller pitched all seven innings for the Tigers and took the loss. He struck out eight, but allowed four Harvard runs on five hits. Kaplan and senior Stephen Wendell each had two hits in the game. In the second game, Harvard plated two unearned runs in the top of the first inning to pull ahead in an eventual 8-2 win. After a lead-off single, a sac bunt and a walk, Harvard had two on with an out when Wilson hit a ground ball that the Tiger infield couldn't handle. Instead of getting an out, Harvard scored a run and the inning continued as another run scored on a groundout.
The Crimson added a run in the top of the second as Brendan Byrne was hit, then Andrew Casey doubled him home.
Princeton got on the board in the bottom of the second as senior Zach Wendkos doubled to center field. He went to third on one of junior Sal Iacono's three hits in the game and scored on a sac fly by Wendell.
Harvard regained the three-run cushion in the third when Josh Klimkiewicz hit a solo homer to left field. The teams traded runs in the sixth inning as Wilson homered for the Crimson and Wendkos scored on a Kaplan single. Harvard closed the game out with three runs in the ninth on a three-run homer from Wilson.
Harvard starter Adam Cole picked up the win after pitching seven-and-two-thirds innings and allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out 11. Jason Brown picked up the save.
Junior Gavin Fabian took the loss, allowing four runs in three innings before leaving the game. Junior Michael Zaret and sophomore Reid Peyton closed out the game.
The losses drop Princeton to 4-13-1 on the season and 0-2 in the Ivy League. Harvard is now 6-9-1 overall and 2-0 in Ivy action. Princeton hosts Dartmouth tomorrow in a doubleheader while Harvard heads to Cornell.