Baseball: Tigers lose shootout in regular-season finale

The Tigers found themselves down by a run early on, as the hosts put themselves on the board in the first inning. Princeton, however, responded with a strong six-run second frame to take a 6-1 lead. After a two-out error by Delaware shortstop Dave Anderson that allowed Princeton’s first run to score, sophomore outfielder John Mishu hit a bases-clearing triple to put the Tigers up 4-1. Mishu went 3-for-4 with four RBIs in the game.

Freshman first baseman Mike Ford and junior catcher Sam Mulroy followed with RBI singles to complete the six-run inning.

Princeton surrendered the advantage in the bottom of that frame, however, as the Blue Hens scored five runs off freshman left-handed pitcher Michael Fagan to even the game at 6. Delaware added another in the fourth inning when first baseman Steve Ulaky homered, giving his team a one-run lead.

The Tigers responded with three runs in the fifth inning. Senior designated hitter Matt Connor hit a pinch-hit home run, sophomore shortstop Matt Bowman added an RBI triple and Mishu drove in his fourth run of the day to give Princeton a 9-7 lead.

The Tigers lost the lead for good in the eighth inning, as Delaware scored three runs off Bowman, who moved from shortstop to the mound. A one-out single by third baseman E.J. Stolzfus drove home the tying and winning runs, and the hosts added an insurance run later in the frame.

Delaware closer Stephen Richter shut down any thoughts of a Princeton rally by pitching a scoreless ninth for the save, giving the Blue Hens the 11-9 victory. Bowman took the loss, dropping to 2-7 on the year.

Despite the loss, Princeton can take some positive momentum into the weekend, especially with respect to hitting. Nine Tigers combined for 12 hits, with Bowman and Mishu collecting multi-hit games at the top of the lineup.

Princeton also played a strong game in the field, playing its third consecutive error-free game after committing 12 miscues in the three previous contests.

The Tigers, outright winners of the Gehrig Division title, will face Dartmouth this weekend in a best-of-three series for the Ivy League title. Princeton earned home-field advantage and will start its quest for the title with a Saturday doubleheader at Clarke Field, beginning at noon. Game three, if necessary, will take place Sunday at 1 p.m.