Columbia
Princeton
Baseball's Win-Streak Snapped After 4-3 Walkoff Loss at Princeton
4/11/2015 3:35:00 PM | Baseball
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PRINCETON, N.J. – The Columbia baseball team saw its nine-game winning streak come to a halt after Princeton came up with a 4-3 walkoff win in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday. The Tigers' (6-21, 3-6) Mat DeNunzio came through with a game-winning pinch hit single with one out in the seventh.
Joey Falcone put the Lions (16-11, 7-2) in front with his fifth homer of the year, an opposite field solo shot, in the second inning.
Both starting pitchers continued to roll, but a costly error allowed Princeton to grab a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
With one out, Nick Hernandez doubled off the wall in center before Randell Kanemaru could not field a slow roller hit to short. Hernandez came all the way around on the play to make it 1-1. Tyler Servais singled when he hit a ball to the spot vacated by Will Savage as he covered second on a stolen base attempt. Blake Thomson followed with a single over the head of a leaping Nick Maguire at first to give the Tigers the lead.
George Thanopoulos then issued a walk to load bases, but got induced a big ground out to keep it a one-run game.
In the sixth, Columbia recorded three straight hits to take the lead back. A single by Will Savage started it off and Jordan Serena notched a hit and stole second to put two in scoring position for Robb Paller. The junior came through with a double to center make it 3-2.
The Lions had a golden opportunity to add insurance runs after two walks were issued to load the bases with just one out. However, Princeton reliever Nick Donatiello got two key outs on a force play at the plate and called third strike to keep his team within striking distance
The Tigers started to work their magic with an infield single. After a fly out, Danny Hoy belted a two-strike double to put runners on second and third. Zack Belski laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that allowed Asher Lee-Tyson to slide under the tag and tie the game. With the infield in, DeNunzio singled up the middle to end the ballgame.
The win for Princeton snapped a seven-game skid against Columbia.
Thanopoulos lasted six innings, allowing two unearned runs on five hits to go with four strikeouts.
Savage finished 2-for-4 from the dish.
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