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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Rider
Princeton Drops Midweek Game at Rider
May 03, 2006 | Baseball
May 3, 2006
Box Score
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - Senior Zach Wendkos had two hits and drove in three runs but it was not enough as Rider came from behind to beat the Princeton baseball team 9-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Pitaro Field. Princeton jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the game but Rider took advantage of four Tiger errors with six unearned runs to pull off the win.
Through its first three trips to the plate, Princeton built a 4-0 lead on the Broncs. Back-to-back singles to begin the game put a pair on base for Princeton, and consecutive flyouts allowed lead runner Derek Beckman to reach third and score. The sac fly was hit by Wendkos and was his first of three RBIs in the game.
Two innings later, Princeton used a three-run third to move ahead 4-0. Beckman hit a leadoff double, his second hit of the game, and went to third on a groundout. A walk put two on and both runs scored when Wendkos tripled to the wall in right center.
Rider answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning. A one-out single and a fielding error put two on and the first runner scored on another single. Another error on what should have be an inning-ending grounder allowed a run to score before a different runner was caught in a rundown.
The score remained 4-2 until the bottom of the sixth when Rider plated three runs. Tom Letizia bunted for a hit to begin the inning and went to first on a groundout. Another groundout pushed him to third. He scored on a single up the middle by James Hayes and Hayes came around when Scott Knazek tripled. The runs gave Rider its first lead at 5-4.
Princeton tied the game up in the top of the seventh when sophomore Spencer Lucian hit a leadoff triple to straightaway center and scored on freshman Adrian Turnham's single up the middle. The tie only lasted until the bottom of the inning however, as three more Rider gave the Broncs a lead they would not relinquish. A leadoff walk and a groundout put a runner on second. A ground ball pushed the runner to third, but a throwing error left the runner safe at first. Princeton got the second out of the inning in a rundown between third and home when Mike Poalise reached on a fielder's choice, but a walk loaded the bases and a two-run single by Hayes gave Rider the lead. The third run scored on a two-base wild pitch.
Sophomore Steven Miller started the game and went four innings, allowing three hits and two unearned runs. Junior Eric Walz pitched two innings, while sophomore Reid Peyton and freshman Brad Gemberling each pitched one. Peyton took the loss to fall to 1-1. Erik Holck got the win for Rider.
The loss dropped Princeton to 16-23-1 entering this weekend's Ivy League Championship Series. Princeton visits Harvard for the best-of-three series with the league's championship and NCAA tournament berth on the line.