Szymanski sparks offense in home victory over Rider

The baseball team's offense came alive yesterday afternoon, boosting Princeton to a sound 10-2 victory over Rider at Clarke Field.

The Tigers combined for 11 hits, putting their most recent loss — a three-hit, 4-0 shutout to Vermont — far behind them.

Sophomore center fielder B.J. Szymanski led the offensive attack, going 1-for-3 with a team-leading three runs scored and three RBIs.

In the top of the opening inning, Rider drew first blood. After junior starting pitcher Brian Biegen struck out the leadoff hitter, Rider second baseman Dante Paolillo connected on a 2-0 pitch for a home run that sailed over the right field fence.

Unfortunately for the Broncs, that would be all the offense they would get for the day. The Tigers prevented Rider from scoring any more earned runs for the rest of the game.

Rider's only other run came in the fourth inning. With a runner on third and two outs, a ground ball was hit to senior third baseman Jon Miller, who overthrew sophomore first baseman Ryan Eldridge, allowing the runner to score.

Sure enough, the very next pitch was hit again to Miller, who made a clean play to end the inning.

The big story of the day was Princeton's offense.

"Eleven hits today," head coach Scott Bradley said. "We knew that we have to be able to score runs, and we came through today. We're very athletic this year with Szymanski, and we've got big, strong, left-handed hitters."

After matching Rider's run during the Tigers' half of the first inning, Princeton scored three more runs to take an early lead in the second inning.

Freshman shortstop Matthew Becker began the second by lining a double to left field. Sophomore designated hitter Will Venable came in for junior Steve Young, who had been bothered by his hamstring. Venable singled, and Becker scored on the next play, as Szymanski grounded into a fielder's choice.

Eldridge and Miller then walked to load the bases with two outs. Freshman right fielder Andy Salini capitalized on the opportunity, lining a two-run single past the second baseman. Salini was thrown out at second while attempting to advance on the relay to home plate.

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Rider pitcher Ken Betkowski was suffering from control problems throughout the day. Betkowski walked eight Tiger batters in the four and a third innings that he pitched. Princeton's patience at the plate was rewarded, as it came up with big hits with runners on base.

The Tigers' four-run fifth inning was enough to put the game away. It was highlighted by a pair of two-run doubles, hit by Szymanski and Eldridge down the left field and right field lines, respectively.

While the offense was outstanding, Princeton's pitching quietly had a great day as well. Biegen gave up only two hits and one earned run in three innings, while striking out six. Sophomore Brian Kappel came on in the fourth inning and held the Broncs to just one unearned run in two frames.

Junior Thomas Pauly was steady as usual, throwing a scoreless three innings to close out the game.

An interesting development today was sophomore pitcher Worth Lumry's performance. Lumry, a left-handed pitcher, uses a submarine delivery to give batters a different look. Lumry struck out two batters, and allowed no runs in one inning pitched.

"He's basically been doing it for just two months," Bradley said. "It's going to take a little bit to find it, but he's definitely going to be a weapon."

With the Ivy season starting Saturday against Brown, the Tigers picked a good time to step up their offense.