AP Sports Preview

PRINCETON, N.J. (Interstat) — Harvard visits Princeton for an Ivy League baseball game Sunday afternoon at Bill Clarke Field, with both teams looking to gain momentum in the final weeks of the season.

The Crimson (9-26) have lost 10 of their last 12 games, though they snapped a five-game skid Saturday with a 10-3 victory over the Tigers at the same venue. Princeton (14-25) has dropped four of its last five, including Saturday’s loss to Harvard.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. under cloudy skies with a temperature of 56 degrees.

Harvard starter Luca Alagheband will be a key figure for the Crimson. The right-hander earned the win Saturday against Princeton, tossing five innings of two-hit ball, allowing two earned runs and striking out seven. Over his last four appearances spanning 16 2/3 innings, Alagheband has a 1.62 ERA with 21 strikeouts. He also threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Penn on April 26 and struck out eight in 6 1/3 frames against Brown on April 21.

Princeton shortstop Tommy Googins leads the Tigers’ offense. Googins went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Saturday’s loss to Harvard. Over his last 10 games, he has hit .300 (9-for-30) with one homer and seven RBIs. Googins also drove in runs in wins over Dartmouth on April 26 and April 25, and he had a three-hit game against Wagner on April 22.

Saturday’s contest saw Harvard’s Jordan Kang go 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs, while pitcher Jack Smith added four scoreless innings of relief. For Princeton, pitcher Kasey Gilman threw two scoreless innings and Charlie Wolf allowed one earned run in 1 2/3 frames.

The all-time series between the Ancient Eight rivals is closely contested, though Harvard has won three of the last five meetings. Sunday’s game could have postseason implications as both teams jostle for position in the Ivy League standings.

The Interstat sports simulator projects a 6-2 victory for Princeton, but Harvard’s Alagheband has been sharp and could keep the Tigers in check.

After Sunday’s contest, Harvard will host Holy Cross on Tuesday, while Princeton travels to face Rider on Wednesday.

The game will be streamed on ESPN+.