With a difficult start to Ivy League play last weekend, all the men's baseball team can do is look for the silver lining and prepare for the future.
"Even though we had a rough first weekend in Ivy League play, I still have a lot of confidence in the team and the direction we're headed in," freshman shortstop Dan Degeorge said. "I think we saw flashes of some good baseball this weekend. On Saturday, our pitching was tremendous, we just couldn't get the bats going. And on Sunday our bats came alive a little more. When we put it all together I think we're going to have a lot of success."
It was a long weekend for the Tigers (4-15-1 overall, 0-4 Ivy League), as they got swept in two doubleheaders by Harvard (8-9-1, 4-0) and Dartmouth (6-10, 3-1) on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Sophomore leftfielder Micah Kaplan had four hits each day, as well as four RBIs on the weekend.
Crimson strikes early
The Crimson jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first in both of Saturday's games, forcing Princeton to play catch up the whole way. In the afternoon game, that two-run lead was all Harvard needed, as the Orange and Black fell, 4-1.
In the first, Crimson centerfielder Matt Vance led off the game with a double and later scored on a home run by first baseman Steffan Wilson.
The Tigers answered back in the bottom of the first with a run of their own, but unfortunately for them, it was the only run they could manage the entire game. Degeorge led off the game by reaching base on a throwing error by the pitcher, putting him on third. Junior second baseman Aaron Prince struck out swinging, but senior rightfielder Andrew Salini knocked Degeorge home on a double down the right field line.
From that point on, Princeton could not get the timely hit it needed to come back. The Tigers stranded six and could not get any more runs across the plate, despite holding the Crimson to only four.
Harvard sweeps
In the nightcap, Harvard led off the game with a little small ball. A leadoff single followed by a sacrifice bunt and a walk gave the Crimson two runners on with only one out. The next batter grounded to senior third baseman Zach Wendkos who mishandled the ball, allowing one run to score. A double steal put runners on second and third with one out, and junior hurler Gavin Fabian walked the next batter to load the bases.
Harvard then picked up another run on a groundout to second.
After blanking the Tigers in the bottom of the first, the Crimson added another run to their lead in the top of the second when second baseman Brendan Byrne got hit by a pitch with one out and catcher Andrew Casey drove him home on a double to left.
Princeton responds
Princeton chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the second when it picked up one run. Wendkos led off the inning with a double to center, and junior catcher Sal Iacono advanced him to third with a single through the left side.
After Kaplan struck out for the first out of the inning, senior first baseman Stephen Wendell hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Wendkos.
Harvard got the run back in the top of the third, however, on a home run to left center by first baseman Josh Klimkiewicz. The Crimson extended its lead to four in the top of the sixth with a Wilson solo homer.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers picked up their second run of the game on a two out rally. After strikeouts by Prince and Salini, Wendkos drew a walk which was followed up by an Iacono single to left. Wendkos scored on a Kaplan single.
Harvard added another three runs in the top of the ninth, making the final score 8-2.
More struggles
Though the Princeton bats came alive Sunday, outhitting Dartmouth 27-22, the team could not string the hits together when it needed them. The result was a couple of close losses, 7-6 in the afternoon and 10-8 in the evening.
As was the story the day before, the Tigers played come-from-behind from the get-go. Princeton responded to the four Big Green runs in the top of the first with only one of its own in the bottom of the inning. The run was set up when Degeorge led off the game with a double and advanced to third on a flyout by Prince. He scored on a Salini groundout to second.
Comeback falls short
The Big Green added runs the next three innings, putting the Tigers in a 7-1 hole. In the bottom of the fourth, the Princeton bats came alive, scoring four. Iacono led off the inning with an infield single to short. He then scored on a Kaplan RBI double. Kaplan advanced to third on a Wendell fly ball to center and scored on a single up the middle by freshman designated hitter Andrew Doupe. Sophomore center fielder Spencer Lucian then homered, making the score 7-5.
Princeton added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a Degeorge home run to left, but it was not enough, as Big Green closer Kyle Zeis picked up his third save of the season.
In game two, the Tigers again fell behind, 4-0, after two Dartmouth runs in both the second and third innings.
In the bottom of the third, Princeton took its only lead of the weekend when it picked up five runs. With one out in the inning, Prince began the rally with a triple to right center. After a Salini walk, an RBI single by Wendkos put runners on first and second with one out.
Iacono loaded the bases with a single to right, to set up Kaplan who picked up two RBIs on a single through the left side. Kaplan advanced to third on a throwing error by the leftfielder that scored Iacono. The next batter, Wendell, was hit by a pitch. Turnham then hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Kaplan. The inning ended when senior shortstop Matthew Becker flied out to left with the score at 5-4.
Dartmouth scored two runs in the fifth to make the score 6-5, but the Tigers tied up the game in the bottom of the sixth on a Salini single that scored Becker.
The Big Green scored three runs in the top of the seventh to make the score 9-6 and Princeton could not catch up. The go-ahead run came about from three walks and a hit batter. A single knocked in the other two. Dartmouth scored its final run in the top of the eighth to extend its lead to 10-6.
The Tigers were able to pick up two runs in the bottom of the eighth but they were not enough to catch the Big Green.
"Needless to say, it was a very disappointing weekend," head coach Scott Bradley said. "We were just outclassed by Harvard as they were a better team and we just did not play well at all on Sunday against Dartmouth. For the first time in a long while, we did not pitch very well on Sunday. We need to regroup and just play sound baseball."
Despite the disappointing results, Princeton still has high hopes for the remainder of the season.
"We have 16 games left in league to play, and making the Ivy Championships is still a very realistic goal," Wendell said. "I don't think our record reflects the caliber of a team we are, and I think we are going to prove that over the next four weeks."
Read More
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.