Tigers team up for shutout

After pounding out an astonishing 72 runs in its first seven games, the baseball team seemed to be an unstoppable offensive juggernaut. Jumpstarted by table-setters like junior shortstop Dan DeGeorge and featuring fearsome bats in sophomore catcher Jack Murphy and senior third baseman Spencer Lucian, the Tigers’ lineup was firing on all cylinders, and the team’s record stood at a sterling 6-1.

The good times didn’t last. Princeton (8-9) learned a harsh lesson over spring break on its southern road trip, suffering from cold spells and encountering dominant pitching from opposing teams. The Tigers, held to two runs or fewer in six of their nine games, were taught a harsh truth: Few teams can win consistently without stalwart pitching and steady defense. Fortunately for Princeton, that lesson seems to have stuck. Last night, as a lethargic lineup struggled to plate the few runners it managed to get on base, the Tigers’ staff pitched to its fullest potential en route to a 1-0 victory over Rutgers (6-13). Head coach Scott Bradley was proud of his team’s first one-run win.

“It was good,” Bradley said. “We lost some one-run games on [our] spring trip.”

The game’s winning run came in the first inning. Leadoff hitter DeGeorge smacked a leadoff single off Scarlet Knight righthander Tony Wargo (0-2). Wargo, making his first career start in his third year at Rutgers, struggled to settle in during the frame. Wargo’s control suffered while he pitched from the stretch, and he walked three of the next four batters — Lucian was the last free pass that Wargo issued in the inning — to give Princeton the free run.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, the handouts ended after Wargo escaped the bases-loaded jam. The Knights’ starter got into a groove beginning with the second inning and finished the game with a dominant line: seven innings pitched, two hits allowed and an astounding 11 strikeouts.

“The big things we have to work on are having better at-bats … [being] able to consistently score some runs,” Bradley said. “We have scored two or fewer runs in seven of those[last 10] games, which is obviously a problem.”

Sophomore starter Langford Stuber (1-1) — who entered the game with a 9.00 ERA in his 11 innings pitched — picked up the win for Princeton. Stuber’s last outing, a 6-3 loss to No. 3 North Carolina, featured a solid if unexceptional performance. In his four workmanlike innings, Stuber allowed three runs — only two earned.

Against Rutgers, however, Stuber looked like a new man as he pitched the Tigers to victory. Like Wargo, Stuber had trouble settling in during the first inning. Stuber walked his second batter in the game, Scarlet Knight shortstop Dan Betteridge. Two outs later, Betteridge had reached third base, and Stuber faced a challenge in first baseman Jaren Matthews.

Matthews, who came into the game hitting .297 with 19 RBI in 19 games, flew out to left field and stranded the baserunner.

After pitching himself out of the jam, Stuber did not face another serious threat from Rutgers. In his four innings pitched, the lefthander lost his control at times — walking four batters — but allowed only one hit.

Following Stuber’s strong start, Princeton’s deep bullpen rose to the occasion. Pitching with a one-run lead, freshman righthander Matt Welsh threw 1.2 scoreless innings before handing the ball to fellow rookie hurler David Palms. Palms gave the Tigers 2.1 innings of one-hit ball, lowering his impressive ERA to 3.14.

In the ninth, Princeton entrusted the lead to yet another rookie. Freshman righthander Dan Barnes did not disappoint, striking out the side and saving the game.

Barnes has posted exceptional numbers for a first-year starter, with a 3.32 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. Now, however, the Tigers may use Barnes as their fireman in the ninth inning.

“We wanted to see how Barnes reacted coming out of the bullpen,” Bradley said. “He’s had a great spring, but the experience of battling in the Ivy League — which he hasn’t had yet — was a factor. The way he pitched showed we might be able to do some things with the pitching and might have found someone who can close out games for us.”

The win could not have come at a more important time. This weekend, Princeton hosts Dartmouth for a Saturday doubleheader and faces Harvard twice Sunday. Armed with the knowledge that they can win with both their bats and their arms, the Tigers will head into their first weekend of Ivy League play with momentum and confidence.