Despite comeback efforts, Princeton baseball falls to Yale in three game series sweep

This past weekend, Princeton baseball (7–19 overall, 2–7 Ivy League) lost all three of its games against Yale (16–9, 7–2) in a bitter battle at Clarke Field. Princeton played impressive defense and fought to the end with standout eighth-inning performances in both Saturday games, but were unable to hold their leads, leaving Yale to emerge victorious.

Game One: Yale 7, Princeton 6

Princeton got off to an electric start, putting up the first points of the series in the bottom of the first inning with a home run to right field from first-year first baseman Tomas Cernius. Cernius’ hit also drove in first-year infielder Bennett Crerar, who had singled on his turn at bat. The Tigers began the series strong with a 2–0 lead. 

By the end of the fourth, Yale had evened the score 2–2. An error from Princeton and a wild pitch in the third put the Bulldogs on the board, as Yale catcher Owen Turner scored, and two hits in the fourth drove catcher Bryce Miller home. 

Singles from first-year utility Joe Montembeau, junior infielder Tommy Googins, junior infielder Jake Kernodle and sophomore infielder Grant Werdesheim in the fifth allowed Princeton to regain the lead scoring three runs across the four hits. 

Sophomore infielder Isaac Lamson stole second, putting the Tigers into an additional scoring position. The inning ended soon thereafter, however, after a foul out, leaving Werdesheim and Lamson on base. Nonetheless, the Tigers had once again pulled ahead 5–2.

Yale responded aggressively, and a series of singles in combination with a wild pitch and a hit batter allowed the Bulldogs to get back on top. Scoring an impressive five runs across four hits, Yale took the lead 7–5.

Kernodle demonstrated impressive offense in the seventh, making his way around the bases on a wild pitch and passed ball, after he had singled at bat. He delivered the Tigers another run on the sole hit of the inning to narrow Yale’s lead 7–6, but the comeback attempt just wasn't enough.

“We just came up short,” Head Coach Scott Bradley told The Daily Princetonian postgame. “We’ve got to figure out how to finish games, figure out how to win. It’s not just about competing, we’ve got to win games, that’s what we’re here for.”

Game Two: Yale 12, Princeton 7

Though Princeton made a strong comeback effort in the final three innings, Yale boasted a formidable lead throughout game two and secured the series win. 

The Bulldogs had early success on both sides of the baseball. Yale’s pitcher retired Princeton’s side in order in the first three innings.

Yale led 4–0 in the fourth as Princeton first reached the bases. A double from Lamson and a walk for Cernius put Tigers in scoring position, but both were left on base as the Yale pitcher retired the side. 

Yale scored two more runs in the top of the fifth by making two hits, successfully stealing bases, and advancing on wild pitches.

Yale had further success in the top of the sixth scoring four runs across three hits. Through the top of the seventh, Yale racked up ten unanswered runs, dominating the gameplay.  

Junior utility Dylan Zdunek shifted the tides for the Tigers as he lobbed his first career home run to right field and put Princeton on the board late in the seventh. 

“In the [second] game, when Dylan hit the homer, we’re down ten-nothing at that point, so the home run was nice,” Bradley told the ‘Prince.’ “We kind of got back, but still the game was almost out of reach.”

Werdesheim started off the eighth with a single to center field. Lamson and senior infielder Jake Koonin walked, respectively, and, for the first time all game, Princeton’s bases were loaded. All eyes fell to Cernius who, though flying out to centerfield, brought Werdesheim home. 

Sophomore catcher Will Robbins stepped up to the plate next, and hit a homer to left field scoring another three for the Tigers. 

“Each time I get up there I’m trying to have a quality at bat, trying to see the ball, and just hit the ball hard to do the job for the team,” Robbins told the ‘Prince’ postgame. “I think that’s the most important thing, when you get up there you do what it takes to make a quality at bat and help the team win.” 

Yale scored another two runs in the top of the ninth to increase their lead 12–5. 

Princeton resumed their comeback effort, scoring two more runs and reaching bases with five players. Unfortunately for the Tigers, this offensive motion came too late in the game, and Yale took the series. 

“It seemed like we had a little more fight in us, a little more competitive spirit,” Robbins reported. “I think we need to take that for the next couple of games.” 

Game Three: Yale 5, Princeton 4

The third game was a contentious battle as Yale was vying for the sweep and Princeton fought to salvage a weekend win. Despite a late surge, Yale held on to secure the sweep. 

Sophomore pitcher Liam Kinneen started for the Tigers and kept Yale’s aggressive offense largely at bay. Kinneen struck out five batters across six innings amid changing weather conditions and rain, proving a challenge for the Bulldog lineup. 

Yale reached primarily on walks or hit batters, and only scored in the second through successful stealing and an error in the fourth by Princeton’s third base fielding. 

“It was a really good pitchers battle, Liam Kinneen threw really well, and their pitcher threw well,” Bradley reported. “We hung in there.” 

Princeton made crucial catches in the outfield throughout the game, namely from Koonin in the third and fifth innings, to prevent Yale from pulling away as they were able to in the second game. 

“Jake’s a terrific athlete, he’s spent most of his career in the infield, and [since] we’ve put him in the outfield he’s done a very nice job,” Bradley said when asked about Koonin’s performance.

Princeton found their offensive rhythm in the bottom of the eighth on a series of walks and a single from Werdesheim. 

A single to the right side from Kernodle saw two runners home and advanced Werdesheim to third. The score now stood tied 2–2. 

Koonin reached on a fielder’s choice, Kernodle advanced to second, and Werdesheim scored, putting the Tigers in the lead. Cernius’ double to right center allowed Kernodle to reach home and Koonin to advance to third. 

“We’ve got faith in each other,” Cernius told to the ‘Prince.’ “Hits are contagious, so if one person starts hitting the rest start hitting. The gameplan’s to stay behind each other and get going when the hits come around.”

By the end of the inning, the Tigers had turned the game around, scoring four runs across three hits and leaving an additional three on base. The teams entered the final inning with a 4–2 Princeton lead.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, they couldn’t finish the job. Yale scored three runs across only one hit as five of their batters advanced on walks, a wild pitch, or being hit by the pitch. The game-winning play came from a single up the middle to bring two Bulldogs home. 

“You score four to take the lead, you have to be able to close that game in,” Bradley said. “It was a tough weekend. In games one and three we had nice comebacks, took the lead, and then immediately gave it up.”

The Tigers will play at Clarke Field again on Wednesday, April 8 for a midweek matchup against Monmouth University (15–13, 11–4 Coastal Athletic Association). Then, Princeton will travel to New York over the weekend to play against Columbia (6–18, 4–5 Ivy League). 

“[We’ll] just want to reset, take a few days, especially heading into this mid-week game, get back to playing good baseball, get back to doing the basics well: throwing strikes, quality at bats.” Cernius said. 

“[There is a] lot of the season left and we want to prepare and put our best baseball out there.”

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

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