Princeton at Dartmouth
HANOVER, N.H. (Interstat) — Justin Kim pitched six no-hit innings and the Princeton Tigers pounded the Dartmouth Big Green 9-2 on Sunday afternoon at Red Rolfe Field at Biondi Park to salvage a split of their Ivy League doubleheader.
Princeton improved to 13-24 overall while Dartmouth fell to 11-22.
Kim, who entered the game with a 3.0-inning, two-earned-run outing against Penn on April 18, dominated the Big Green from the outset. He faced the minimum through three innings, allowing no hits, no runs and striking out two over six frames.
The Tigers broke the scoreless deadlock in the fourth inning. First baseman Tomas Cernius launched a solo home run to right field off Dartmouth starter Nate Kugler, giving Princeton a 1-0 lead.
Princeton extended its advantage in the fifth. Left fielder Brady Kaufman doubled to right field and shortstop Tommy Googins followed with an RBI double to right center, scoring Kaufman. After Googins stole third, center fielder Grant Werdesheim laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Googins and advanced pinch runner Ian Lamson to second. Lamson then scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Jake Koonin, making it 4-0.
The pivotal inning came in the seventh. After Kugler exited following 4.1 innings of five-hit, four-run ball, reliever Kyle KlaricSchell surrendered back-to-back hit batters to load the bases. Mac Burke entered from the bullpen but struggled immediately. Cernius drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Googins, making it 5-0. Then third baseman Jake Kernodle singled to left center, driving in Koonin and Werdesheim for a 7-0 lead. Kaufman capped the rally with a two-run single down the first-base line, scoring Kernodle and Cernius to push the margin to 9-0.
Dartmouth’s only scoring came in the bottom of the seventh against Princeton reliever Ryan Penney. With one out, designated hitter Aiden Puig doubled to right field, sending Rodriguez to third. First baseman Nico Banez singled to center, scoring Rodriguez and advancing Puig to third. Left fielder Sean Andersen grounded out to shortstop, allowing Puig to cross the plate. The two runs made it 9-2, but Penney settled down and retired the next batter.
The Big Green managed only six hits, all scattered, and never threatened after the seventh. Dartmouth’s bullpen combination of KlaricSchell and Burke allowed four earned runs in relief.
Princeton’s offense produced 11 hits. Kernodle and Kaufman each went 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Cernius finished 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Googins had two hits and an RBI. Werdesheim added a hit and an RBI.
The game was the second of a Saturday doubleheader that was pushed to Sunday due to weather. Dartmouth won the first game 8-2, while Princeton took the nightcap.
Both teams return to action Wednesday. Princeton hosts Siena, while Dartmouth welcomes Merrimack.
Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Dartmouth 5, Princeton 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Princeton a 50.60 percent probability to win.