Princeton outdone in rainy game

You could almost say the same thing about the scoreline.

Monmouth (8-8 overall) boasts a relentless lineup that produced 44 runs in its three most recent games — all victories — before facing the Tigers (10-12, 2-2 Ivy League). Princeton gave the Hawks a run for their money, piling up eight runs in the first four innings before the bats went cold, allowing Monmouth to come back for an 11-8 victory.

“They kind of got runs throughout the whole game,” head coach Scott Bradley said. “We scored eight runs early but didn’t get a hit after the fourth inning.”

Freshman righthander Matt Welsh, who entered the game sporting a 6.23 ERA, took the mound against the Hawks. Monmouth opposed Welsh with reigning Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Week Kyle Breese.

Perhaps sensing a challenge, Princeton drew first blood against the five-foot, 10-inch lefthander. Sophomore catcher Jack Murphy drew a walk to lead off the top of the second inning, and two batters later, sophomore outfielder Jon Broscious roped a two-out double to rightfield on a full count, scoring Murphy. The Tigers added one more run during the inning on a single by freshman second baseman Matt Connor that scored Broscious.

Welsh could not hold onto the lead against the powerful Hawks. He conceded a walk and a single before Monmouth catcher John Dennis doubled down the rightfield line, collecting two RBI. A sacrifice fly from third baseman Ryan Terry was enough to score Dennis for the Hawks’ third run of the inning.

The two teams again traded blows in the third, with Broscious collecting his second RBI of the day as the Tigers put three more runs on the board. Monmouth responded with two of its own in the bottom of the third to even the score at five. Both Welsh and Breese were knocked out of the game by the end of the inning.

Righthander Tim Dexter, who came on to relieve Breese, hardly fared any better against the rejuvenated Princeton bats. After walking Connor and junior outfielder Derek Beckman, a fielding error allowed junior shortstop Dan DeGeorge to reach base and scored Connor. Junior first baseman Adrian Turnham sacrificed to score Beckman, and senior third baseman Spencer Lucian singled up the middle to drive in the Tigers’ third run of the inning.

After allowing a run in the bottom of the fourth, freshman righthander Tim Feess was lifted in favor of freshman righthander Matt Grabowski, who started strong by pitching a scoreless fifth inning. The Hawks, meanwhile, found an effective pitcher on their third try of the afternoon. Reliever Tim Ballard threw perfect innings in the fifth and sixth to neutralize the previously potent Princeton lineup.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Grabowski started to scuffle. First baseman Andy Meyers launched a leadoff home run against Grabowski on a full count. Outfielder Paul Bottigliero doubled on the very next pitch, and outfielder Nick Pulsonetti then tagged the young pitcher for the Hawks’ second homer of the inning. Grabowski finished the inning but not before ceding five runs and the lead to Monmouth.

“We have some young pitchers who haven’t gotten to pitch much,” Bradley said. “We tried to get a few guys two innings who haven’t had chances yet. Our philosophy for midweek games is just to get guys work.”

Both offenses seemed fairly exhausted during a seventh inning in which Ballard and Princeton freshman lefthander David Palms traded perfect frames. Palms looked excellent for the Tigers. Facing the heart of the Hawks’ order, Palms induced a foul pop-up from Meyers and struck out Terry and Bottigliero.

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Palms would also throw a perfect eighth, but Princeton’s bats failed to produce more offense for the Tigers. Ballard dominated Princeton’s hitters in the last four innings and collected the first two outs of the ninth before handing the ball to righthander Justin Esposito. Esposito dispatched DeGeorge, the last batter, securing the 11-8 victory for the Hawks.

Despite the outcome, Bradley saw the game as progress for the team. The work for inexperienced pitchers adds depth to an already strong rotation, though Bradley still hopes for a more consistent offensive effort.

“We have a lot of confidence in our pitching staff,” Bradley said. “[In this weekend’s doubleheaders against Yale and Brown] we will have the advantage on the mound in every single game. Then it’s just up to our offense to swing the bats.”

Offense might not mean putting up eight or 11 runs but enough to give the pitchers breathing room.

“We have to find a way to grind out runs,” Bradley said, “whether it’s four in a seven-inning game or five or six in a nine-inning game.”

Princeton is coming up on what Bradley calls “the 12-game tournament,” games against other teams in the Lou Gehrig Division who will eventually compete for the Ivy League title and a spot in the NCAA tournament.