SCHENECTADY, NY – Union College senior righthander Eric Giovannone (New Hartford, NY/ New Hartford) pitched his fourth-straight complete game win as the Dutchmen split a doubleheader with 16^th-ranked Rensselaer Saturday afternoon at Buck Ewing Field. Sophomore Pat Wilson (Cos Cob, CT/ Greenwich) drove in two runs in the first game to lead Union to a 2-0 win, and Rensselaer freshman John Dreimiller (Ticonderoga, NY/ Ticonderoga) pitched a complete-game five-hitter as the Red Hawks took the second game, 2-1.

 

Rensselaer pitcher Joe Zongol (Flower Mound, TX/ Southington (CT)) held the Dutchmen to just one hit through five innings in the first game, but Union (5-14, 5-7 Liberty League) exploded for four hits and two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Scott Carroll (Scituate, MA/ Scituate) singled to left center and advanced on a dropping hit to short center by Matt Smith (Latham, NY/ LaSalle Institute). The pair advanced to second and third on a Kyle Murphy (Plymouth, MA/ Phillips Andover Academy) single to center before crossing the plate on Wilson's single to center.

 

Zongol (3-1) struck out six and walked none while allowing five hits in the game. Giovannone (4-1) scattered four hits, struck out three and walked two in his second shutout of the season.

 

Union stranded 14 Rensselaer runners in the second game, but the Red Hawks collected runs in the fifth and sixth held Union hitless in the final two frames to take the nightcap.

 

Rensselaer (15-7, 4-4 Liberty League) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth, as Andy Soprano (Lafayette Hill, PA/ Germantown Friends School) reached on a fielder's choice and crossed the plate on a double to deep left center by sophomore Mike Giacoia (Marlboro, NY/ Marlboro).

 

Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/ Catholic Central) hit an RBI single to center off of Union reliever Roy Eriksen (South Nyack, NY/ Hackley School) in the top of the sixth to take a 2-0 lead.

 

Union responded in the bottom of the seventh when freshman Colin McKelligan (Canton, MA/ Salisbury School) plated Wilson on a single to center. Wilson started the inning with a single through the left side and then stole second.

 

Union starter Josh McKelligan (Canton, MA/ Salisbury School) allowed one run on four hits in five innings before giving way to Eriksen (0-1) at the start of the sixth. Eriksen walked three and allowed one run on one hit in the frame. David Arouca (Wilmette, IL/ Blair Academy) walked one and struck out one while giving up two hits in 1.2 innings. John Moore (Westport, MA/ Moses Brown) collected the last out of the eighth inning and held the Red Hawks at bay in the ninth , striking out the last two batters of the game looking.

 

Dreimiller (3-2) scattered five hits while striking out two and walking one in his second complete game of the season.

 

The two teams wrap up the season series tomorrow in a noon Liberty League doubleheader at Rensselaer. The games can be heard live in the Capital District on WRPI, 91.5 FM and on the web at www.wrpi.org.