Columbia
PRINCETON*
Baseball Swept By Princeton
4/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Game Two Box Score
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Despite sophomore pitcher Bill Purdy pitching a no-hitter until the eighth inning in the second game, the Lions could not pull off the split, losing the second game 6-3 in the 11th inning and losing the first 8-0 to Gehrig Division rival Princeton.
Both Purdy and Princeton pitcher Eric Walz dominated the second game as Purdy pitched a perfect game thru four and a third innings and a no-hitter until the eighth and Walz held the Lions to three hits going in to the ninth inning. In the eighth inning, the Tigers got their first hit of the game, as Stephen Wendell singled up the middle and then stole second during the next at bat to put himself into scoring position. With two outs, Princeton got another hit, and Wendell went for home, but was stopped in his tracks as senior centerfielder Marc Gold threw him out at the plate to keep the game scoreless.
In the bottom of the 10th inning with the game still knotted at zero, senior Michael DeFazio singled his way onto base. With one out, first-year Spencer Silverstein blasted a double to the center field, but Princeton relayed a perfect throw, getting DeFazio at the plate and then caught Silverstein off of second base, ending the Lions' chance to win the game.
Princeton got some momentum in the 11th inning as Spencer Lucian tagged Purdy for a solo home run to finally put runs up on the board. The Tigers were able to score six runs in the inning, combining for five hits and taking advantage of two Lion fielding errors.
Columbia also found some momentum in the 11th but not enough, losing 6-3. With one out, sophomore Noah Cooper was hit by the pitcher and then moved over to second on a Gold ground out. Junior Craig Rodwogin hit a grounder to the second baseman, who committed an error, allowing Cooper to go home. Sophomore Dan Neczypor then cleared the bases, hitting a long ball to right center for a two-run homer.
Purdy (1-6) took the loss, pitching 10.1 innings, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out five batters. First-year Mike Roberts was the only Lion with multiple hits in the game, going 2-for-4 with two singles.
In the first game, the Tigers put up one run in the top of the third inning, tagging starter sophomore John Baumann for two hits. Princeton went up 2-0 in the fourth inning, scoring one run on three hits to increase its lead. The Tigers scored two runs in the fifth inning on a home run by Zack Wendkos to make the score 4-0.
Princeton increased its lead in the next two innings, scoring three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to win by a final score 8-0.
Baumann (2-3) took the loss for the Lions, pitching six innings, allowing 11 hits and seven runs while striking out three Princeton hitters. Six different Columbia players combined for the team's six hits.
The Lions face Princeton in another doubleheader tomorrow, Sunday, April 16 at noon.
