Baseball Splits With Princeton

The Harvard baseball team dropped the second game of its double-header against Princeton 3-2 in 13 innings yesterday.

The loss spoiled a chance at a sweep of the Tigers (10-16, 5-3 Ivy), as the Crimson (8-17, 4-4) had won the first game of the afternoon 6-2.

The double-header was originally scheduled for last Sunday, but rain forced the games to be postponed until yesterday.

Princeton 3, Harvard 2 (13 innings)

After seven scoreless innings, Princeton catcher Casey Hildreth ignited a rally in the top of the 13th inning that put the Princeton ahead.

After reaching on a leadoff single, Hildreth moved to second base on an error by junior shortstop Mark Mager.

Once there, freshman Steve Young came in to pinch-run for him. Young moved to third and then came in to score on back-to-back wild pitches by Harvard pitcher Justin Nyweide.

Eleven innings earlier, the Crimson had drawn first blood against the Tigers. Freshman designated hitter Trey Hendricks singled to begin the inning.

Senior centerfielder Scott Carmack was then hit by a pitch from Tiger junior Chris Higgins. A sacrifice bunt from sophomore catcher Brian Lentz advanced the runners and senior left fielder Joe Llanes' groundout sent Hendricks home to give Harvard a 1-0 lead.

But that lead was short-lived as Princeton retaliated in the top of the third inning. Senior second baseman Tim Phillips led off the inning with a double. Then, Harvard starting pitcher Barry Wahlberg hit left fielder Jon Watterson with a pitch to send him to first base. Wahlberg's wild pitch to shortstop Pat Boran advanced both runners into scoring position.

Boran then singled to send Phillips home and put Princeton on the board. First baseman Andrew Hanson then flied out to left field, batting in Princeton's second run as Watterson tagged up to score.

Princeton retained the 2-1 lead until the bottom of the fifth inning when Mager began a Crimson rally with a double. Junior third baseman Nick Carter singled Mager home to tie the game at 2-2.

In the top of the sixth inning, Harvard Coach Joe Walsh replaced Wahlberg with junior pitcher Justin Nyweide. Wahlberg had allowed five hits while striking out two in his five innings of work.

The next seven innings were scoreless frames marked by stranded baserunners and dominant pitching. Young's run in the 13th was the only mar on Nyweide's seven innings. He allowed four runs and struck out five on the day.

Harvard had big hits from Hendricks, who went 3-for-4, and Mager, who went 2-for-5, but that did not outweigh the Crimson's three errors in this tight game.

Harvard 6, Princeton 2

In the first game of the afternoon, the Crimson held a 2-0 lead until the top of the sixth inning when Princeton senior Andrew Hanson sent a two-run home run over the right field fence.

Harvard still pulled out the win thanks to a sixth inning rally that was led by hits from sophomore catcher Brian Lentz and junior first baseman Josh San Salvador, both of whom went 2-3 for the game.

Harvard got on the board early when Princeton pitcher David Boehle gave up a hit and two walks to load the bases in the bottom of the first inning.

Senior left fielder Joe Llanes stepped up to the plate and was hit by a pitch to force in the first run. The Crimson took an early 1-0 lead, but left the bases loaded at the end of the inning.

The Crimson earned another run in the fourth inning when San Salvador hit a triple over the head of Princeton left fielder Jon Watterson. Mager brought him home with a sacrifice bunt to bring the score to 2-0.

Senior ace John Birtwell continued his excellence from earlier this season, allowing just two hits through the first five innings. But he surrendered three hits in the sixth inning, including the two-out two-run homer to Hanson.

Senior Tim Philips had opened up the inning with a stand-up double that set up Hanson to tie the game at 2-2. Birtwell recovered his composure to strike out junior Eric Voelker to end the Tigers' inning.

But the Crimson struck back in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the win. Senior Scott Carmack and Llanes started off the rally after Boehle hit them both with pitches. San Salvador then singled to left field to drive in Carmack and send Llanes to second base.

The Tigers replaced Beohle on the mound with sophomore Mark Siano. On Siano's first pitch to Mager, Carmack and Llanes took off on a double steal. With first base open, Siano intentionally walked Mager who had already doubled and bunted in a run.

But Lentz stepped up and drove a single into center field to score Llanes and San Salvador to bring the Crimson ahead 5-2.

As Siano wound up to deliver the next pitch to junior Javy Lopez, Lentz took off from first. Tiger catcher Tim Lahey's throw sailed over the second basemen's head, allowing Mager to score the final run, giving Harvard the 6-2 win.

The Crimson played an errorless game while the Tigers committed two on the game.

Birtwell earned the complete-game victory, improving his record to 3-2 and allowing only five hits while striking out seven.