Union meet top-seeded Clarkson Friday at 3:30 p.m. in UCAA tournament opener.

The baseball team is joining the softball team, the women'slacrosse team and the men and women's crew teams in postseason play. The Dutchmen, under first-year head coachJeremy Rivenburg, will participate in their first-ever Upstate CollegiateAthletic championship tournament this weekend at Clarkson. Union, the No. 4 seed by virtue of its 6-6conference record, will take on the top-ranked Golden Knights on Friday, May 7at 3:30 p.m.

The Garnet tuned up for the event on Wednesday afternoon(May 5) by beating Skidmore, 3-0, in a non-league nine-inning game. The win snappedthe Dutchmen's three-game losing streak and enabled them to end the regularseason with an overall record of 15-18.

"That was a big one for us," saidRivenburg, "I honestly think we are going to surprise some people this weekend."

The Dutchmen have five .300-plushitters in their lineup. Junior outfielderAdam Chadwick leads the squad at .376 and is followed by classmate, outfielder,Mike Flanagan (.342), freshman shortstop Kyle Murphy (.333), senior catcher DanMehleisen (.326) and sophomore second sacker Ben Brown (.308).

Senior first baseman Jim Griglunleads Union in RBIs (22), doubles (seven) and home runs (three). Chadwick boasts team-highs in both runsscored (23) and stolen bases (14 of 19).

Junior Frank Arcuri leads themound staff with his earned run average of 1.54 while freshman Eric Giovannoneis next at 3.89. Senior Dave Masi andGiovannone share the team lead with their four victories.

The Dutchmen split their two games with the Golden Knights,losing 7-1 before taking the nitecap 15-5.Flanagan and senior outfielderCliff Eisenhut each drove in three runs to back the complete-game pitching of Masito give Union the second-game win.

Eisenhut had a pair of doubles among his three hits whileFlanagan stroked three singles and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Grigluncontributed a double and single and scored three times while Murphy and freshmanoutfielder Matt Smith each stroked a pair of singles and also crossed the platethree times. Masi, meanwhile, struck out five and walked only one.

The opener saw the Knights use a 10-hit attack, which wasled by a four-for-four effort by second baseman JJ Lorence. Griglun, freshmaninfielder Brian Rhone and sophomore catcher Adam Chused accounted for theDutchmen's three hits.

The tournament champion earns the right to represent the UCAA in the upcoming NCAA Division III national championship event

2004 BASEBALL UCAA TOURNAMENT at CLARKSON'S SNELL FIELD

Friday, May 7--#3 Rensselaer vs. # 2 Rochester --Noon #4Union vs. #1 Clarkson--3:30

Saturday, May 8--Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 --9:30a.m. Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2--12:30 Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser ofGame 4--4:00

Sunday, May 9--Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5-- NoonWinner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5 (if necessary)--TBA