Baseball slides by St. John's in 7-5 win

With his seventh-inning single to centerfield, senior shortstop Pat Boran became the sole holder of the all-time hits record at Princeton with 203, after taking possession of the runs-scored record when he scored his 141st career run in the top of the third. His hit and his run helped the baseball team defeat St. John's in late action last night by a score of 7-5.

Princeton jumped out early to a 1-0 lead as sophomore outfielder Eric Fitzgerald singled with one out, and then stole second base. When junior centerfielder Jon Miller reached second base on an error by the Red Storm third baseman, Fitzgerald scored.

The Tigers took a 3-2 lead on a ground rule double by Miller in the top of the third, scoring Boran's record-setting run as well as Fitzgerald. Freshman first baseman Ryan Eldridge would add Miller to that list with a single into centerfield, making the lead 4-2.

St. John's bounced back, scoring three runs over the next two innings, taking a 5-4 lead. It looked like Princeton might drop the game until sophomore catcher Tim Lahey sent a pitch flying over the centerfield fence, batting in three more runs to give the Tigers the 7-5 game-winning lead.

Junior pitcher Ryan Quillian held off the Red Storm for the next three innings, keeping them scoreless. Sophomore reliever Thomas Pauly finished off the game in the ninth for his ninth save of the season. With that save, Pauly ties junior pitcher David Boehle for the Princeton record most saves in a season. Boehle started the game against St. John's, giving up only three earned runs. Both Boehle and Quillian struck out five batters apiece and Pauly contributed two.

Miller finished the day with two hits, leading the team against the Red Storm.

Princeton improves to 20-18 with the win, heading into the final weekend of Ivy League play with a four-game series against Cornell.