Dartmouth (8-9, 6-0 Ivy) is on a nine-game winning streak and is currently undefeated in the Ivy League. Meanwhile, Princeton (8-12, 1-5 Ivy) has lost its last five games and has an Ivy League win percentage of only .167.
"We came in 4-0, and now we are sitting at the top of the Ivies -- to sweep the first day and be 6-0, we are playing great baseball," co-captain Robert Young '10 said after the Princeton games. "Our hitters are tearing the covers off the balls, and our pitchers are having good outings. It definitely gives us a lot of momentum."
Young led the Big Green to the first 4-1 victory against the Tigers with a complete game on the mound.
"Robbie Young was excellent in the first game in that he was able to mix pitches without falling into a particular pattern," head coach Bob Whalen said. "He was able to throw all three pitches for strikes -- his fastball to both sides of the plate, his breaking ball and his change. That was the theme of the game."
Utilizing these pitches, Young was able to strike out seven batters, giving up four hits throughout the game and only one earned run. Princeton got onto the scoreboard early as the Tigers converted on an RBI double by Jack Murphy in the top of the first. Young, now 2-2 in his four outings this season, has an ERA of 5.88.
"The mound is wonderful, the backdrop, the scenery, the fans that came out -- it's amazing," Young said of the Big Green's new field. "It's definitely a brand new experience for me to play on something so nice."
Dartmouth opened its newly rennovated baseball facility, Red Rolfe Field at Biondi Park, this past Wednesday.
Nick Santomauro '10, who had the game-breaking double in Wednesday's game against Siena University, also had the winning blast in the first game against Princeton as he cleared the left field fence with his fifth homer of the season. Now leading the Big Green in home runs, Santomauro drove in two runs with his first inning shot as Joe Sclafani '12 was on first after a bunt single.
With 17 RBIs on the year, Santomauro also leads the Big Green in batting, with a .387 average and slugging percentage of .693.
The Big Green scored its final two runs of the first game during the third inning, when Jeff Onstott '11 went deep with a two-run homer. It was Onstott's second home run of the season. He now has 13 RBIs this year.
The second game was a more high-scoring affair, as Dartmouth had 12 hits while Princeton drilled 11.
The Big Green broke the game open during the third inning as Jim Wren '10 homered off of Princeton pitcher Brad Gemberling with two outs, bringing home Santomauro, who had walked to first earlier in the inning. The drive put Dartmouth ahead 5-3.
"We scored runs with two outs eight times today -- that's demoralizing to the other team," Whalen said after the second game.
Brett Gardner '10 then drilled a double to left, followed by an RBI single to center field by Jack Monahan '09. The sixth run was all Dartmouth would need, as the Big Green scored again in the fourth and eighth innings to bring the final tally to 8-5.
Dartmouth starting pitcher Ben Murray '10 gave up all five of Princeton's runs before being replaced after six innings by reliever Marco Mariscal '12. Murray earned the win after striking out six for a career high, walking one and giving up 10 hits. He now has a record of 3-1, and an ERA of 4.66 on the season.
"Murray maybe didn't have his best stuff, but he still competed well," Whalen said. "They had the bases loaded and then first and second with two outs twice, and in all three of those situations, he got us off the field without giving up a run."
The rainy weather did not prove to be a problem for the Big Green as the new turf field remained playable, according to Whalen.
"We are trying to get accustomed to how the field is going to play," Whalen said. "The clay got a little slick out there because of the drizzle, but if this had been our old field, it would have been very sloppy in the infield, and the balls would not have played the same."
The Big Green sluggers return to the field on Wednesday with a game against Saint Anselm University at 3:30 p.m. in Hanover. This weekend, Dartmouth will face off against Brown in two doubleheaders, with the first games of each doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. in Hanover.
