The baseball team split its final two Ivy League games of the season yesterday, losing 3-1 in the front end of a doubleheader and then winning 11-4 at Princeton.
"It was a really well-played game by both teams," Head Coach Mikio Aoki said. "Both teams pitched it well, but I thought we swung the bats well against a darn good pitcher."
Lions starter Jessen Grant (4-3) pitched a complete game, striking out seven and allowing seven hits and three runs. But Grant's efforts were not enough, as the Lions could muster only one run on six hits.
"When we needed a couple of two-out hits, we didn't get them," Aoki said. "I thought we swung the bats pretty well."
The Lions' (20-26, 9-11 Ivy) only run came in the top of the sixth inning, when shortstop Billy Hess advanced to third on a throwing error by Princeton's (21-18, 12-4) pitcher, Ross Ohlendorf, after being hit by a pitch to get on base. Third baseman Mike Baxter then hit a sacrifice fly that scored Hess. The game ended with a ground-out to shortstop by designated hitter Nick Solaro, a play that left the tying run on base.
While Aoki was pleased with the way his team played in the first contest, he also noted some poor umpiring.
"There were a couple of calls that probably could have, or should have, gone our way," he said after the game.
Aoki specifically made reference to a play in the second inning in which outfielder Fernando Perez was tagged out at the plate--a play that would have given the Lions an early one-run lead. The coach also pointed to some balls called for Grant that Aoki thought were strikes.
"It was pretty funny today," Grant said. "I think the umpire missed more than normal, some at key moments. I just tried to pitch my game."
While Grant allowed that he also could have made some better pitches, the starter did hold the best team in the Lou Gehrig Division to just three runs.
In the second game, the Lions were able to capitalize on more scoring opportunities, improving on the previous game's total of leaving more than five men on base.
The 11-4 rout showed the Lions' hitting strength against a conference opponent for the final time this season.
The Lions scored 11 runs off 15 hits and five different Princeton pitchers, splitting most of their damage between a six-run third inning and a four-run sixth.
DH Solaro led the team's offensive surge, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Baxter was also prolific at the plate, hitting 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Left fielder Mike Anderson and catcher Joe Catsam each had two RBI.
Brendan Quinn pitched an effective start, going eight innings, allowing nine hits and four runs, and striking out three. With the win, Quinn improves to 3-2 on the season.
For shortstop Billy Hess, the weekend was record-breaking.
The senior starter is now second on the all-time hits list, second on the all-time doubles list, fourth overall in runs scored, and is a leader in several other statistical categories.
Aoki said the second game epitomized the effectiveness of this team's offense.
"It's like I've been telling you all year," he said. "We're a pretty good offensive club. We came out [in the second game] and swung the bats well."
The Lions face Manhattan College tomorrow in a season-ending doubleheader at Baker Field scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.
