The Big Green (6-7, 0-0 Ivy) showed the late-inning resiliency that was missing in the 2007 season, snatching a 7-5 win from Quinnipiac on Wednesday.
Dartmouth took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of eighth inning when Kyle Zeis '08 came in to relieve Dan Ternowchek '11 with a player on first. Zeis walked the next four batters, allowing the Bobcats to tie the score with two runs.
The Big Green, however, was not going to go down without a fight against the Quinnipiac team that routed them 11-6 in last year's meeting. Zeis struck out three batters to end the inning and Dartmouth went to work in the ninth.
Jim Wren '10 started off the inning with a single to right field, advancing to third on a throwing error following a grounder to the right side of the infield. Brett Gardner '10 reached first on the passed ball, setting up Johnathon Santopadre '09 to finish the afternoon.
Santopadre fell behind in the count 0-2.
"All that was going through my head was just getting the barrel on it," Padre said. "I was thinking 'try and get the ball in the outfield,' but when you get to 0-2 it's just put the ball in play as hard as you can."
He accomplished this task, lacing a single down the left field line, giving Wren the opportunity to score and take back the lead for the Big Green. Jeff Onstott '11 tacked on an insurance run to cap off a 5-6 performance that included a two-run homer, the first of his collegiate career.
"He's a stud," Santopadre said of Onstott. "It's so valuable to have a freshman stepping up like that and doing the things that he's doing."
Closer Ryan Smith '11 came in for the final inning and earned his second save of the year, striking out Quinnipiac's Blake Barone to end the game.
"The reason that this year's team is so much different than last year's is that we have established to ourselves that we can win close games regardless of which way the momentum is going," Santopadre said.
Dartmouth is 4-1 in games decided by one run, and has not lost a game it led in the seventh inning or later.
Six pitchers appeared in the game for the Big Green, which is not uncommon during early non-conference games. Bobby Steinsdoerfer '07 recorded three strikeouts and allowed three walks during three innings of no-hit ball. Zeis recorded the victory, and leads the team with three wins.
Quinnipiac got on the board early, scoring in the first inning and extending its lead to three on a two-run homer by graduate student Pete Kummerfeldt. Dartmouth cut the deficit to one with a two-RBI single by Jason Blydell '08.
The Big Green took its first lead of the game in the fifth inning with Onstatt's home run. Nick Santomauro '10 drove in his seventh run of the year to put Dartmouth ahead 5-3.
Wednesday's victory extends the Big Green's winning streak to three with the start of the Ivy League season looming in the near future. Dartmouth will take on Princeton and Cornell this weekend in a pair of doubleheaders on the road.
Santopadre is optimistic about Dartmouth's chances in Ivy League play, especially following the team's recent performance.
"If there's any time to be rolling and have momentum it's right now," he said.
