Pitching carries baseball to 3-1 weekend record

Heading into this season, the baseball team's biggest question mark was an inexperienced pitching staff. But less then a month into the season, the Tiger hurlers have already made quite an impression.

Princeton's precocious pitchers did it again this weekend, leading the team to three wins in a four-game series with Stony Brook (8-9 overall). After posting 2-0 and 4-3 victories at home on Saturday, the Tigers (10-6) split two games in Long Island on Sunday, losing the first, 2-1, but rebounding to take the second, 4-1.

"The four guys we've been running out there in that rotation have all just been great this year," head coach Scott Bradley said.

Saturday's first game featured the best pitchers' duel, as junior Ross Ohlendorf and Seawolf pitcher Ryan Claypool filled the scoreboard with zeros. Ohlendorf's fastball overpowered Stony Brook. He struck out nine and gave up just two hits and two walks.

Princeton got on the board in the fifth when, with a full count, two outs and a man on first, sophomore shortstop Matthew Becker crushed a delivery over the left-field wall.

Ohlendorf preserved the 2-0 lead, picking up a seven-inning complete game shutout. He is now 3-1 on the year with a 2.25 ERA.

In the second game of the double dip, both teams got on the board in the first frame. With a runner on base, Stony Brook's Isidro Fortuna belted a high fastball deep to left-center. Junior centerfielder B.J. Szymanski flipped over the outfield wall trying to rob him of a home run, but could not make the catch.

Princeton answered immediately. Senior shortstop Steve Young led off with a perfectly placed drag bunt. Three batters later, sophomore rightfielder Andrew Salini hit a ground ball that shot just under the glove of the Seawolves' diving first baseman, and the speedy Young motored home from second.

Both pitchers quickly settled down, however. Sophomore hurler Erik Stiller kept Stony Brook off balance with an array of curveballs and changeups. His defense helped him out, as sophomore catcher Zack Wendkos made a highlight-reel catch in the sixth, laying out to snag a pop-up behind the plate.

The Tigers finally got to Seawolf pitcher Jon Lewis in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman third baseman Sal Iacono led off with a high pop-up that the shortstop misjudged and allowed to fall harmlessly onto the outfield grass. Junior designated hitter Will Venable followed with a double down the right field line, moving Iacono to third and setting up the day's most contentious play.

Senior first baseman Ryan Reich smacked a sharp ground ball directly at the Seawolves' drawn-in third baseman, who immediately dove towards third in an attempt to tag Iacono before he could scamper back to the bag.

When the umpires ruled Iacono safe, Stony Brook manager Matt Senk did his best Lou Piniella imitation, so vehemently arguing his objections that he was rewarded with an early trip to the showers.

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Two batters later, with the bases loaded, freshman second baseman Aaron Prince patiently drew a free pass, forcing Venable home to tie the game. Young added a sacrifice fly, putting Princeton ahead, 3-2. The Tigers added an insurance run in the seventh when Szymanski tripled and Salini singled him home.

Princeton would need the cushion, as Andrew Larsen cranked a long dinger to left-center on Stiller's first pitch of the eighth inning, closing the gap to 4-3. Stiller, by now clearly gassed, gave up a double to the next batter before giving way to junior reliever Brian Kappel. The Tiger closer shut the door, retiring six batters in a row to pick up his fourth save of the year.

"We're looking to fill the void from Thomas Pauly [who was drafted]," Bradley said. "To have someone you can bring in late to finish games is just terrific."

On Sunday, the Seawolves finally earned a victory in the day's opener. Princeton scored first, posting an unearned run in the second. But the Tigers scratched out just two more hits and could not score again.

Freshman pitcher Eric Walz pitched solidly, scattering seven hits over six innings. Still, he ended up taking the loss, falling to 2-1 on the season, when Stony Brook torched him for runs in the fifth and sixth.

Princeton's bats awoke in the series finale. Iacono got things started in the fourth, driving in Szymanski. The Tigers' success continued in the next inning, when Young singled home two runs. Szymanski followed with a double, driving Young home for his team-leading 17th RBI of the season.

The four runs would be more than enough for freshman Gavin Fabian, who turned in a masterpiece from the mound. He was working on a three-hit shutout before giving up a run in the ninth. Even so, he needed just 94 pitches in the complete game win.