Big Eighth Inning in Game 2 Helps Princeton Secure Doubleheader Split vs. Columbia

Saturday, April 6

Princeton, N.J.

11:30 AM

Princeton University

5-17, 2-5

Columbia

9-13, 5-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Columbia	0	1	1	0	1	0	3	1	1	8	11	1
Princeton	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	7	2

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

Big Eighth Inning in Game 2 Helps Princeton Secure Doubleheader Split vs. Columbia

April 06, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PRINCETON, N.J. – A six-run eighth inning in game two helped the Princeton Tigers secure a doubleheader split vs. the Columbia Lions on Saturday afternoon at Clarke Field.

Columbia 8, Princeton 2
Columbia's Chandler Bengtson's three-run home run in the top of the seventh proved to be the big blow in the Lions' victory in game one.

The Lions started the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second frame. A solo four-bagger from Liam McGill in the road squad's next at-bat made it 2-0. Columbia stretched its lead to three on another sacrifice fly in the fifth.

This Nadir Lewis triple put the Tigers on the board in the bottom of the sixth …

Columbia 3, Princeton 2 | B6

Nadir Lewis rips one into the gap in right center that brings home Boone! The freshman later scored on a sac fly to get the Tigers within one.

Watch: https://t.co/vdVbIUQWRN pic.twitter.com/gPMSzKaSnv
— Princeton Baseball (@PUTigerBaseball) April 6, 2019

The next batter, David Harding, followed with a sacrifice fly to make the Ivy matchup a one-run affair, but Bengtson's three-run blast countered the Tigers' rally in the next half stanza. Columbia finished off the scoring with single runs in the eighth and ninth innings.

Eric Marasheski had two hits to lead the Tigers' offense. Columbia's Josh Nicoloff had a game-high four hits. Bengtson had three RBI and three runs scored in the win.

Princeton 8, Columbia 6

12 straight hitters retired to open the game.

No hits through five innings.

Trailing 4-0 before a one-out hit in the sixth frame broke the no-hit streak.

A win.

One of those things is not like the others, but it was the Tigers' six-run eighth inning that pushed the home squad to a split. Reese Rabin left no doubts with a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the win.

The scoring began with a two-out two-run single from Nicoloff to put the Lions ahead in the top of the first. A fielding error made the score 3-0 in the second while a sacrifice fly extended the road unit's margin to four in the sixth.

Max Machiorlette broke up the no-hit bid with a double down the left line and scored two batters later on a double from Jake Boone. Columbia answered with a two-run home run by Joshua Solomon in the next at-bat, setting the score at 6-1.

A Harding four-bagger gave the Tigers a second tally in the seventh stanza.

Then the eighth inning happened.

Machiorlette led off with a harmless walk, but circled the bases on a triple from Davis. Davis touched home on a hit from Boone. Three straight walks quickly got the Tigers within one, 6-5.

No outs had been recorded yet.

Finally … This Max West single to left put the Tigers in front …

Princeton 7, Columbia 6 | B8

Max West! The senior catcher with the clutch hit to left! The Tigers come roaring back ... literally. Princeton takes the lead!

Watch: https://t.co/VTfXeKihYP pic.twitter.com/KY9jfSgtbP
— Princeton Baseball (@PUTigerBaseball) April 6, 2019

Marasheski tacked on an insurance run two batters later before Rabin closed out the ninth.

Boone had two hits, leading the Tigers. James Proctor struck out nine hitters in five frames of work. Julian Bury and Joe Engel combined for six of the Lions 14 hits in the game. Columbia left 14 runners on base in the loss.

Princeton now sits at 6-17 overall and 3-5 in the Ivy League while Columbia is 9-14 and 5-3 in the conference. These two foes go for the series victory tomorrow. Andrew Gnazzo is on the mound for Princeton with first pitch set for 12 p.m.