The results were the same, even if the means were different.
After exploding for 33 runs to take both ends of a video-game-style doubleheader Saturday afternoon, the baseball team notched two more victories on Sunday in far more conventional contests.
With the four-game sweep, Princeton (18-13 overall, 7-5 Ivy League) leapfrogged their hosts for the weekend, Columbia (9-21, 6-10), to grab the top spot in the Lou Gehrig division, turning a one-game deficit into a three-game lead and putting the Tigers in the driver's seat in the race to qualify for the Ivy League Championship Series.
"We always set our sights on three wins, and getting the fourth is a great bonus," head coach Scott Bradley said. "You need a little luck to win four consecutive games against one team in baseball."
Saturday's double dip was a wild affair, as Columbia's Andy Coakley Field — boasting short fences and a dry, fast infield — lived up to its reputation as a hitter's ballpark.
The Tigers jumped in front early in the first game, using four hits and two errors to grab a 6-0 lead in their very first turn at bat, and extending their lead to 9-1 by the end of the third inning.
With junior ace Ross Ohlendorf on the mound, the game appeared in the bag. The normally untouchable flame thrower gave up a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth before exiting for the day, his pitch count already over 100.
Still, after junior closer Brian Kappel breezed through the sixth inning, the 9-5 cushion appeared to be plenty with just three outs to go in the abbreviated game. But the Lions rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend the game to extra innings.
"No matter how big the lead is," Bradley said, "you never feel comfortable at that ballpark."
Neither team scored in the eighth, but Princeton pushed a run across in the ninth. Sophomore first baseman Stephen Wendell led off with a single and, after another single and a ground out, he scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by junior leftfielder Adam Balkan.
In the bottom of the ninth, Kappel redeemed himself, this time shutting the door on the Lions to pick up the win in the 10-9 victory.
Game two was even wilder — and far more one-sided. Princeton used 19 runs and four Lion errors to score 23 runs. Every starter scratched out at least one hit and 10 different Tigers drove in runs. Senior designated hitter Tim Lahey turned in the most impressive stat line, going 4-6 with three homers, six runs batted-in and five runs scored.
Again, Princeton jumped out to a large early lead — 9-3 after four innings. But this time, the Tigers continued pounding away, scoring seven in the sixth and four more in the seventh to go up 20-3.
Columbia scored six runs in the seventh to knock sophomore Erik Stiller off the mound, but the damage was negligible, as two relievers finished off the 23-9 win.
Perhaps fatigued by all their scoring the previous afternoon, Princeton's batters were far less potent in Sunday's opener. Freshman hurler Gavin Fabian made sure it didn't matter, though, tossing a seven-inning complete game gem.
After the teams traded runs in the first two innings, the Tigers pulled ahead 3-1 in the third. Although they missed several chances to cushion their lead, the Lions never even threatened again.
Fabian allowed just three hits the rest of the way, completely shutting down Columbia to pick up his third win of the season. Once again, the freshman's control was impeccable, as he walked none and threw 61 of 81 pitches for strikes to carry the Tigers to the 3-1 victory.
"His performance has been mind-boggling," Bradley said.
Princeton received another strong pitching performance in the nightcap, as freshman Eric Walz scattered four hits over six innings, giving up three runs to improve his record to 3-2 on the year. Junior Brian Biegen pitched the final three innings for his first save.
Columbia started Brian Dovelea, whom the Tigers had sent to the showers after one inning on Saturday. He started much stronger this time, allowing just two runs through the first four innings.
But with the score knotted at two in the top of the fifth, Princeton roughed him up once again, knocking him out with four straight hits. By the time the frame ended, six Tigers had scored, blowing the game open. The Lions scored a run in each of the sixth and seventh innings, but Princeton held on for the 8-4 win.
With the sweep, the Tigers now hold a commanding lead in the Lou Gehrig division race — the path back to the Ivy League Championship series appears clear.
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