Captain Robert Young '10 believes that the success Dartmouth enjoyed on its spring trip to Florida will carry over to the Ivy League schedule.
"This is one of the toughest spring trips we've ever been on," Young said. "Most of the teams we played went to Regionals last year. They're all really good ball clubs. Between that and [the three games against No. 1 ranked] Virginia, we've had a really tough pre-conference schedule."
The matchup with Cornell (4-7, 0-0 Ivy) marks the first time the two clubs have met since last season's Ivy League championship series. The Big Green finished the season 4-1 overall against the Big Red.
"We know they're going to be a good team," Young said. "They didn't lose many seniors. It's going to be a great test coming out of the gate."
Like Dartmouth, Cornell had some success on its spring trip to Florida. It swept two games against Northwestern University before dropping a pair to Florida Atlantic University.
The Big Red pitching staff currently leads the Ivy League with a 4.56 ERA and its defense ranks first with a .965 fielding percentage. Cornell sophomore outfielder Brian Billigen ranks second in the Ancient Eight in hitting. He currently sports a .394 batting average.
Last season, Dartmouth swept both games against Princeton (5-13, 0-0 Ivy). In fact, the Big Green have not dropped a game to the Tigers since 2007. Princeton's spring trip took it first to North Carolina and later to California for four games against Santa Clara University.
The Tigers did not enjoy the success of the Big Red, going 2-8 in North Carolina and losing 3 of 4 to Santa Clara.
"They always have good pitching," Young said. "It seems like we always have one really close ball game with them."
Young heads what looks to be a strong four-man rotation for the Big Green this season. Young will take the ball for the first game against Cornell on Saturday, with Ben Murray '10 set to start game two. Young has a 4.95 ERA in four appearances and is 1-1 with one save and 17 strikeouts.
Murray (0-3) is coming off a rough start against Illinois on March 24 in which he gave up eight runs and 12 hits over seven innings of work. Murray will look to recapture his form of a year ago, when he ranked third on the team in ERA and finished with a 6-1 record.
Kyle Hendricks '12 will take the mound for Dartmouth in the first game on Sunday. Hendricks (1-2), a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American last season, is coming off a complete game effort against Bethune-Cookman University on March 25. Hendricks surrendered just two earned runs and struck out seven but took the loss after the Wildcats scored two unearned runs in the seventh inning.
Pitching the fourth and final game of the weekend will be Kyle Hunter '13, who is coming off a strong outing against Bethune-Cookman on March 26. Hunter (1-0) went seven and a third innings and allowed just two earned runs, but still received a no-decision. He ranks second on the team in ERA behind Michael Johnson '13.
Outfielder Brett Gardner '10 has missed some time recently due to injury, but, according to Young, the team hopes that Gardner may be able to receive a couple at-bats this weekend.
Coming off an Ivy League Rookie of the Week performance, Zack Bellenger '13 will look to continue his hot streak this weekend. Bellenger, who has seen time at first and third base, hit .316 last week and put up an impressive .480 on-base percentage. He capped off the week in spectacular style, hitting a go-ahead bases-clearing double in the bottom of the ninth in the team's final game against Bethune-Cookman.
Bellenger credits the baseball atmosphere of his home state of Texas and the Big Green coaching staff for his ability to make a seamless transition to Division I.
"The summer ball that I played was highly competitive in Texas," he said. "All the practice and the coaches that we have up here have prepared me very well. We practiced in the Fall rigorously. Now I just have to go out and perform."
Both sets of games this weekend are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m., with the second game set to begin at 2:30 p.m.
Head Coach Bob Whalen could not be reached for comment by press time.
