Claiming victory at Clarke: Princeton baseball wins home series against Penn 2–1

Princeton baseball (12–22 overall, 6–9 Ivy League) hosted the University of Pennsylvania (15–18, 9–6) this past weekend for a conference match-up amid clear skies and sunshine. After a close first game, won by the Tigers with a standout performance from sophomore catcher Will Robbins’ two two-run homers, Princeton took a tough loss in game two, and the series came to a head in the final matchup on Saturday afternoon. 

Despite trailing the Quakers through the third, the Tigers secured the series victory with a monumental fourth inning, finishing game three ahead 7–4.

“Every weekend is critical for us,” Head Coach Scott Bradley told The Daily Princetonian. “The Brown and Yale weekends put us in a little bit of a hole, but we’re fighting and we’re getting better.” 

“Our young players keep getting better,” he added.

Game One: Princeton 8, Penn 6

Penn kicked off scoring in the third inning with an RBI single, after a single and a walk had put the Quakers in scoring position.

Princeton responded in the bottom of the fourth with three runs across four hits. A single from junior infielder Jake Kernodle followed by a home run to left center from Robbins put the Tigers in the lead 2–1. 

A single from first-year infielder Bennett Crerar and a walk for junior infielder Tommy Googins put Princeton in further scoring position. Sophomore infielder Isaac Lamson singled to right field, bringing Crerar home and extending the Orange and Black’s lead to 3–1. Unfortunately for the Tigers, Penn was attentive and picked off both Googins and Lamson to end the inning. 

Junior pitcher Elliott Eaton had an impressive five inning start on the mound, surrendering only two runs and seven hits, but after Penn scored their second run in the top of the sixth, a Princeton pitching change put junior pitcher Charlie Wolf in and limited any further damage. 

The Tigers extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth, with a walk from Kernodle and another home run from Robbins. This was Robbins’ second two-run homer of the game and, with it, the Tigers pulled away with a 5–2 lead.

“The pitcher that Will [Robbins] hit his two home runs off of is one of the top pitchers in the country in terms of ERA and width,” Bradley told the ‘Prince’ postgame. “Will capitalized and took a couple of really good swings.”

The Tigers scored another three runs, including an RBI from sophomore infielder Grant Werdesheim in the sixth, and two RBIs from Crerar in the seventh bringing Robbins and first-year first baseman Tomas Cernius home. 

Penn tried to come back with four runs across the final three innings, but the Tigers maintained their lead and kept the Quakers at bay. 

“It was huge for us to win that game knowing that just a split today would win the series,” Bradley said to the ‘Prince’ at the conclusion of the series. 

Game Two: Penn 12, Princeton 0

Despite their dominant performance in the first game, the Tigers did not perform nearly as well in the second. Out hit by the Quakers 14–4, Princeton went three up, three down in six of the nine innings. 

Penn, however, saw major offensive success, boasting 12 unanswered runs. 

Sophomore pitcher Liam Kinneen started the pitching for Princeton. Across the first four innings, he struck out two while giving up eight hits and eight runs. Sophomore pitcher James Beasley picked up pitching in the fifth inning, striking out one after surrendering two hits and two runs. 

First-year pitcher Parker Codington came in through the seventh and managed to keep the Quakers hitless. Junior pitcher Kasey Gilman finished pitching for the Tigers, striking out one, and surrendering four hits and two runs. 

“Our guys are getting pretty good at realizing that it was just one game,” Bradley said. “No matter what the score is, no matter how badly they beat us, that was just one game and we knew that we could come back.”

Game Three: Princeton 7, Penn 4

Despite an early Penn start, Princeton made a strong effort in the bottom of the second. A single from Kernodle followed by a single to center from Robbins gave the Tigers time to get into scoring position with a man on first and second before lobbing any outs.

The next two at bats for Princeton were flyouts. 

After two flyouts, Googins stepped up to the plate, picking up two quick strikes. However, Googins kept his cool and read the pitches, getting himself on base with a walk.

“Earlier in the at bat I swung at a ball, so I really had to step out, regain my focus and then it was all about sticking to my plan and not trying to do too much,” Googins told the ‘Prince.’ 

Despite ending the inning in a groundout from Lamson, these plays proved Princeton was going to be a major offensive threat.

Another double and RBI for Penn widened the Quakers’ lead to 2–0 in the third. 

Werdesheim responded in the bottom of the third with strategic offensive plays and impressive speed to put the Tigers on the board. He bunted on his at bat and successfully made it to first base. Werdesheim advanced aggressively on the next two Princeton at bats, despite both batters grounding out. On a wild pitch, Werdesheim made it home, cutting the Quakers’ lead to 2–1. 

Penn responded with another run, but Princeton defense kept the damage limited, with the top of the fourth ending with two Quakers on base and in scoring position. 

The Tigers found their rhythm in the bottom of the fourth, overtaking Penn for good. 

First-year utility Brady Kaufman started the Tigers’ offensive motion with a single to left field, and a walk from Crerar put the team in scoring position again. 

“I thought they were low on pitching, and we as a team were waiting to get on them,” Googins told the ‘Prince’ postgame.

Googins singled to left center and triggered Princeton’s scoreboard comeback, bringing Kaufman home and advancing Crerar to scoring position. 

“They threw one over the plate and I was able to put it in play and be the spark for us, but it was a key effort one through nine,” Googins said when asked about the hit postgame. 

A walk from Lamson loaded the bases for Princeton. Werdesheim managed a sacrifice flyout to center field, with Crerar coming home and evening the score at 3–3. A single to right center from senior infielder Jake Koonin brought Googins home and advanced Lamson to third, giving the Tigers the lead.

Cernius followed with an electric home run, scoring three runs for the Tigers and extending their lead to 7–3. 

“It was a combination of everybody, we laid off some pitches, we drew a couple walks, got a couple of big hits, and then Cernius was able to hit a big home run for us to give us a little bit of a gap, but it was really just accumulations of really good quality at bats from a lot of our guys,” Bradley told the ‘Prince’ postgame.  

“We’re really excited right now because we feel like our line up is deep,” he continued. “We can go one through nine where everyone makes contributions, and I think you saw that in that big inning today, everybody hit around … some two strike hitting and some clutch hitting.”

In the top of the seventh, Penn posed a major threat. But in a bases loaded, full count, two out situation, senior pitcher Will Sword was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout.

Penn didn’t give up and managed to score one run in the eighth, but consistent, careful pitching from Sword and first-year pitcher Ryan Penney brought the game home.

The Tigers next face Wagner College (16–19, 14–7 Northeast Conference) on Wednesday, April 22 and then will continue Ivy League conference play against Dartmouth University (10–19, 6–9 Ivy League) this upcoming weekend. 

“We are red hot, and I think we’ve got a pretty good shot at making the tournament,” Googins said. “I think we’re going to take care of business for the next two weeks.”

Siena Sydenham is a Sports contributor for the ‘Prince.’

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