After giving up three runs in eight innings, freshman starter Cam Mingo’s control started to fail him in the ninth inning of the final game of the series, when three hits, a walk and a hit batter allowed the Quakers (20-14, 6-6) to plate three runs with two outs, tying the game.
After sophomore reliever Danny Thomson managed to put a stop to the damage, however, the tide turned again as junior center fielder Alec Keller swatted a two-out, one-run home run to give the Tigers a 7-6 lead that held, putting them in second place in the division.
The other two Princeton wins of the weekend were significantly less dramatic thanks to shut-down performances by senior pitcher Zak Hermans and junior pitcher Mike Ford. Both won complete games, with Hermans striking out a season-high 12 batters and allowing two runs while Ford allowed one run on only two hits.
Each doubleheader consists of a nine-inning game and a seven-inning game. Hermans said he and Ford, whom coach Scott Bradley used in the nine-inning games last year, have found it easy to pitch in shorter games this season.
“I’m just able to go into the game expecting to throw all seven innings every time, not really worrying about my pitch count,” he said. “That’s been working out pretty well for Ford and I, being able to take those games … and just not even have to worry about the bullpen.”
The Tigers put up solid offensive numbers over the weekend and scored in the first inning of each of their wins. They put up five runs in the first two frames of the first Saturday game and six runs in the first two of the first game on Sunday.
Keller had an outstanding weekend, going four for four in game one and nine for 17 over both days. In addition to tossing a two-hitter, Ford knocked in seven runs over the weekend.
Though the Tigers beat the Quakers 7-2 and 7-1 to begin both doubleheaders, their only loss of the weekend was a close one. They used only four pitchers in their three wins but went through three in the loss: seniors Kevin Link and Mike Fagan and freshman Luke Streiber. Link, coming off of a rocky outing against Harvard the weekend before last, got only six outs before being pulled, giving up six earned runs. Streiber allowed only one run over his three innings and Fagan, who has had a bumpy season, pitched three innings and let up only one unearned run on one hit, but one run ended up making the difference.
Princeton stayed in the game until the very end, when freshman infielder Danny Hoy drove in a run and another run scored on a sacrifice groundout. There were Tigers on first and third when junior pinch hitter Jonathan York struck out to end the game.
A close decision went the Tigers’ way the next evening, however, thanks to Keller’s home run. Ford also hit a two-run bomb and senior right fielder Steve Harrington drove in two runs in the contest.
Princeton will take on St. John’s this week before returning to Clarke Field for the first time in three weeks for a four-game home stand against Columbia this weekend. As it did last year, that series will have major implications for the Tigers’ playoff hopes.
“Obviously last year they’re the team that pretty much ruined our season by taking three out of four at their place, so we’re going to be looking to get back at them this year,” Hermans said.
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