Scott Bradley has seen a lot in his 19 years at Princeton.

Including one great comeback year.

After all, the Tigers were just 7-32 a year ago.

But the Tigers have earned their way into the NCAA Tournament after winning the Gehrig Division of the Ivy League and then defeating Rolfe Division winner Yale in three games to secure the program's first NCAA berth since 2011.

But even that didn't come easy.

Yale won the first game of the series 8-7 before the Tigers took game two.  Yet Princeton found itself down to its final three outs of the season in game three.  As it turned out, they didn't need any of them.

Trailing 1-0 headed to the bottom of the ninth in the rain, Princeton loaded the bases with none out.  A hit batsman tied the game and a wild pitch ended it.

The Tigers (24-19) have won only three games in their NCAA Tournament history, but will send a solid arm to the mound Friday night against Louisiana as right hander Chad Powers (6-3, 2.07), the Ivy League Pitcher of the Year, has been tabbed as Bradley's game one starter.

Powers showed great improvement after a tough sophomore campaign, going just 1-6 with a 6.55 ERA.  He isn't overpowering, (37 K in 65.2 innings), but he's not going to walk people (2.3/9 IP) and is allowing opponents just a .207 batting average.  He's used a good changeup to enable him to hold left handed hitters to a .188 batting average, 30 points lower than right handed batters.

Ourfielder Jesper Horsted has had a solid freshman season for Princeton, leading the team with a .326 average.   IF Billy Arendt finds a way to get on base. He's got more walks than strikeouts and his .379 OBP is second on the club.

But it's Danny Hoy that makes this team go.  The 5-8 Sr. was in the top ten in the Ivy in nine offensive categories, leading the club in runs, hits, extra base hits, home runs, slugging percentage and stolen bases.

The Tigers are underdogs, to be sure. But after bouncing back from seven wins to 23 in a single season, it would be wise not to tell them what they can't do.

 

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