Baseball walks over St. Peter's, looks to weekend play with Lions

It was the bottom of the second, the score was tied at one and the pouring rain threatened the future of the game. Senior shortstop Justin Griffin was at bat when suddenly the rain ceased. Griffin then stepped back up to the plate and whaled the very next pitch over the left field fence for his second home run of the season. From then on it seemed as if Princeton was destined to win the game.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, victory doesn't always come easily.

Princeton played St. Peter's College yesterday at Clarke Field and for the first five innings, the game was a catfight tainted by numerous errors and terrible pitching in which the lead changed hands five times.

Going up, going down

Princeton eventually gained composure and capitalized on the Peacocks' mistakes, opening up a large lead in the last three innings to prevail, 13-6. With the win, Princeton (14-7 overall, 6-2 Ivy League) extended its winning streak to four, while St. Peter's (4-22) has lost its last seven.

After Griffin's solo homer, which made the score 2-1, the Peacocks responded in the top of the third with three runs, including a two-run homer by center fielder Eric Zbranak. St Peter's scored another run in the top of the fourth to make the score 5-2. The Peacocks were very much in control, and it appeared as if Zbranak – who was a double short of hitting for the cycle – would certainly be the hero of the day.

But in the bottom of the fourth, the Peacock pitching fell apart. Without a hit, the Tigers scored two runs. St. Peter's Rob Casatelli walked three batters, threw two wild pitches and hit senior center fielder Mike Hazen. With one out and two left on base, Casatelli was replaced by Chris Carrier.

Floodgates

The horrendous pitching continued with Carrier, who allowed two singles and threw a wild pitch. By the end of the inning, Princeton had scored five runs to take the lead, 7-5.

"This was an ugly kind of game," head coach Scott Bradley said. "It was an offensively difficult type of day."

As the Peacocks' pitching deteriorated, the Tigers' staff picked up steam. The starter, sophomore pitcher Jay Tedeman, allowed six runs in five innings and was replaced in the top of the sixth by senior Ben Matsil. Matsil pitched three no-hit innings in which he allowed only one walk.

Matsil's clutch pitching was key in allowing the Tigers to open up a comfortable lead in the closing innings of the game. During the late innings, Princeton scored five runs and held St. Peter's scoreless.

Quadrupleheader

This weekend the Tigers travel to New York City to face league foe Columbia in doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday. Though Columbia is one of the weakest teams in the Gehrig division, Princeton must take the games seriously because they have important ramifications on its league standing.

Against Columbia, Princeton must continue to pitch solidly but must also pick it up offensively. The Tigers cannot rely on the mistakes of the other team, as they did yesterday, if they are to sweep all four games – a feat they are certainly capable of achieving.