Baseball to Host Princeton in Final Ivy League Home Series

Games 33-35
Dartmouth (11-20, 6-9 Ivy League) vs. Princeton (13-21, 8-7 Ivy League)
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024 – 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., Sunday, April 28, 2024 – 12 p.m.
Location: Hanover, N.H. – Red Rolfe Field at Biondi Park
All-Time Series: 94-103
Last Meeting: March 26, 2023 – L, 4-12

THE RETURN TO IVY LEAGUE PLAY
Following a close matchup with the Holy Cross Crusaders Tuesday, the Big Green return to Ivy League play, hosting their last regular season Ivy League series and looking to gain momentum in the standings and spoil clinching scenarios.

LAST TIME OUT
On Tuesday, the Big Green welcomed the Crusaders to Hanover and despite getting out to a 1-0 lead on a Nathan Cmeyla home run, the Crusaders pulled ahead and kept the Big Green at bay.

They were able to pull within one run three times, including in the eighth inning when Kolton Freeman hit a home run, but the Crusaders held on for the 6-5 win.

SCOUTING PRINCETON
The Princeton Tigers, riding a series win over Penn and a midweek victory over Wagner, currently sit at 13-21 and 8-7 against conference opponents, good for third place in the Ivy League.

The Tigers are led offensively by Jake Koonin who sits only two points under a .300 batting average and leads the team with 36 hits and 31 RBI. Having started every game this season, Koonin is one of four players to have hit four home runs on the season, good for second best on the team. The only Tiger with more long balls is Nick DiPietrantonio with six.

Two Tigers have each made seven starts on the mound, Justin Kim with a 4.66 ERA in 38.2 innings and Sean Episcope who posts a 7.03 earned run average in 32 innings. Episcope ranks third on the team thus far in strikeouts, having fanned 36 batters so far.

Out of the bullpen, the Tigers rely heavily on Jacob Faulkner. In 15 relief appearances, Faulkner has helped the Tigers win games, posting a 6-1 record and 3.11 ERA in 46.1 innings pitched. Faulkner leads the Ivy League in multiple categories, including earned run average, victories, WHIP, and walks per nine innings. Andrew D'Alessio is the other commonly used reliever, pitching 30.1 innings in ten appearances.

YOUR VERY OWN CONFERENCE LEADERS
Fifth-year pitcher Jack Metzger and senior Tyler Robinson are making an impact in their final seasons with the Big Green.

Metzger, who has been dominant in his 13 relief appearances this year, leads the Ivy League with six saves. He also ranks second on the team with 33 strikeouts having fanned 118 batters in his Big Green career. Metzger also ranks second in the league in two categories, strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.71) and walks allowed per nine innings, sitting only behind Princeton's Faulkner.

Robinson, who started the season hot at the plate, has continued his offensive success, posting a .371 batting average and four triples to lead the team. In addition to accounting for half the Big Green's triples, his four triples lead the Ivy League.

IMPORTANCE OF GAMES
With the Big Green and Tigers each paying their second to last Ivy League series of the season, it is more important than ever for Dartmouth to pick up wins. With three teams having the ability to clinch postseason berths and the Big Green very much in the hunt, every game is important.

HONORING THE SENIORS
Between the two games on Saturday, the Big Green will honor their nine seniors for their contributions to the program. Each senior will be recognized on the field, accompanied by their parents, prior to first pitch of game two against the Tigers.

FOLLOW ALONG
All three games against the Tigers will be available to stream on ESPN+ or follow along via live stats.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Following this weekend's Ivy League series against the Tigers, the Big Green will have two remaining home games and one Ivy League series on the road to close the regular season.

Dartmouth will welcome Merrimack on Wednesday to open the month of May, travel to Penn next weekend for their final conference matchup, then return home to close the season against the Maine Black Bears.

Schedules