College Baseball
Princeton University 12, Rider University 10 (11 innings)
LAWRENCEVILLE--The visiting Tigers scored three runs in the 11th inning to defeat Rider Wednesday. "A lot of times with games like this, one team does not win the game, the other team loses it," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "That is how I feel about this game."
Rider (20-19) tied the score at 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth inning on an RBI double by junior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) to send the game into extra innings. Galella had four of Rider's 16 hits.
"It is very disappointing to scored 10 runs on 16 hits and lose," Davis said. "Galella looked very good at the plate today."
The Broncs took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on three hits and a Princeton error and took a 6-4 lead with four runs in the fourth inning on three hits, the biggest a two-run double by junior Karl Johnston (Hamilton, N.J./Peddie). Johnston had three hits on the day.
Princeton (11-27) tied the score at 6-6 in the sixth inning on a solo home run by pinch hitter Brandon Englert, and took a 9-6 lead with three unearned runs in the seventh inning on two hits and a costly Rider error.
Rider cut the lead to 9-8 in the eighth inning on an RBI single by junior Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock).
Also for Rider, sophomore Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) had three hits and scored twice and junior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) had two hits. "I thought Ralston swung the bat well today," Davis said.
Princeton collected 17 hits off of eight Rider pitchers. "Yesterday we throw a shutout and today we give up10 runs," Davis said. "Yesterday we got good pitching."
Rider senior Brian Herman (Levittown, Pa./Conwell-Egan) started and pitched three and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs and left the game with the score tied at 2-2. "I thought Herman threw well," Davis said, "but his pitch count was up."
Senior Nick Wojnowski (Baldwin, Md./Calvert Hall), freshman Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) and junior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) also collected hits for Rider.
Outfielder John Mishu had four of the Tigers' hits and pitched the 11th inning for the save.
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Princeton and was just the third win for the Tigers in their last 12 games. The win for the Tigers also tied the all-time series with record with Rider at 23-23. Rider won 6-0 at Princeton last year. Princeton won at Rider in 2008.
Rider hosts Siena in a MAAC three game series beginning with a 12 noon doubleheader Saturday. "We certainly have our work cut out for ourselves," Davis said. "We have to win the series to keep our playoff hopes alive."
-ru-
