Baseball heads to N. Carolina, Virginia in search of first wins

When baseball returns from its spring break tour through North Carolina and Virginia, that goose egg in wins should be history.

The Tigers (0-4) play 13 games down south in 10 days from March 14-23, without a day off. That means 13 chances to forget about an ugly weekend sweep by Richmond.

In four games with the Spiders, Princeton was outscored, 25-4, and led by senior catcher Jon Miller's .444 average. Senior Ryan Quillian and junior Thomas Pauly both pitched fairly well in their first appearances.

So the focus turns to spring break — and a hectic schedule that leaves little time for rest. Don't blink, or you might miss the Tigers coming to a town near you.

The voyage starts in North Carolina's capital, where the Tigers take on UNC-Wilmington and Old Dominion on Friday, Oklahoma State on Saturday, and North Carolina State and UNC-Wilmington again Sunday.

UNC-Wilmington (15-6) has the virtue of experience on its side. Jake Mullis is the Seahawks' top pitcher with a 2.27 earned run average in 35.2 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .164 against him. At the plate, Jamie Hemingway's .358 average leads the team.

Old Dominion (5-8) is trying to pull out of a four-game skid. The Monarchs have serious threats at the plate and on the mound — both Brent Sollenberger and Brandon LeNoir are hitting over .350, and Justin Verlander has a 1.93 ERA in 32.2 innings pitched.

Oklahoma State (10-5) has five regular players hitting over .300. Princeton will have to keep its focus near the end of the game — Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents, 34-8, in innings six through nine.

North Carolina State (13-4) is riding an eight-game winning streak and has six regular players over .300 at the plate, including Marc Maynor's team-high .370 average. Pitcher Michael Rogers has a 1.73 ERA in five starts and 36 innings.

After the marathon weekend in Raleigh, the Tigers head just south to Buies Creek to take on Campbell.

The Fighting Camels are just 5-11 but won two out of their last three games. Tom Rispoli and Sal Deanda are both hitting over .325. Pitcher Pat Murray recently tossed a complete game shutout and has just a 1.93 ERA in 16.2 innings.

Princeton heads north after its Monday night date with Campbell for two games with North Carolina.

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The Tar Heels (9-5) will beat you at the plate. Five players are hitting over .300, including Jeremy Cleveland, whose .471 average makes him one of only two players hitting over .400 that the Princeton pitchers will face over break.

North Carolina is averaging 8.8 runs per game and, like Oklahoma State, often scores late. Fifty-two of the Tar Heels' 123 runs have come in the seventh and eighth innings.

Princeton crosses the border into Lynchburg, Va., to take on Liberty (4-7) on Thursday.

The Flames' top three hitters — Erich Cloninger, Larry Wayne York, and Phillip Laurent — are all hitting over .350 on the season and have 24 of the team's 46 runs batted in.

The Tigers will need to attack Liberty's starting pitching. Its top three starters have a lofty 4.94 ERA.

At its final stop in Williamsburg, Princeton will play four with William and Mary (12-5), which may prove the toughest games of the break.

The Tribe boasts the biggest single threat at the plate Princeton will see all week. Michael Brown is hitting .522 with 31 RBIs, nine home runs, and a 1.029 slugging percentage.

The top two Tribe starting pitchers are a combined 7-0. Chris Ray has three of those wins thanks to a 2.17 ERA in 29 innings. Jeff Dagenhart has the other four victories and a 2.94 ERA in 33.2 innings.