POTSDAM, NY – Sophomore Pat Wilson (Cos Cob, CT/ Greenwich) drove in four runs as the Dutchmen split a Liberty League doubleheader at Clarkson Sunday afternoon. Union took the first game, 2-1, but Clarkson responded with a 21-hit effort to claim a 14-7 victory in the nightcap at Snell Field.

The Golden Knights' split pushed their record to 6-20 overall and 6-8 in conference play while Union moved to 8-19 and 7-12 in the Liberty League. Clarkson will look to earn the final spot in the Liberty League playoffs next weekend against St. Lawrence.

Union starter Eric Giovannone (New Hartford, NY/ New Hartford) dazzled in the doubleheader's opener, spinning a three-hitter over seven innings to earn the victory. Clarkson pitcher Darrell Carey  (Dade City, FL) was nearly as impressive, allowing six hits over six innings, but the Dutchmen picked up runs in the third and the sixth inning to take a 2-0 lead into the final frame. With no one out and a runner on third in the third inning, Carey retired two straight hitters and appeared ready to wiggle out of the jam, but Wilson singled up the middle to give Union a 1-0 advantage. In the sixth, again Carey looked as if he was out of another jam, but Colin McKelligan (Canton, MA/ Salisbury) scored from second base on an infield single by Carson Strang (Shaker Heights, OH/ Shaker Heights) that got away from Carey at first base. The Knights responded with a run in the top of the seventh inning to pull within one when Gerald Stothers (Fort Myers, FL) singled home Mike Bresett (Norwood, NY), but Giovannone finished off the frame when a Clarkson pinch-runner was caught stealing to end the game.

The second game was a total opposite from the first as the two teams combined to produce 21 runs and 32 hits. Clarkson scored two in the second, two in the third, three in the fourth, and then sent 12 hitters to the plate in a 7-run, 10-hit fifth inning. Union pushed across three in the third and four in the bottom of the fifth, but never really challenged the Knights for the remainder of the game.

Freshman Sean Griffin (Walden, NY) finished 4-for-5 in game two while sophomore Ryan Glavin (Syracuse, NY) and Stothers each went 3-for-4. Seven hitters enjoyed multiple hit games, including freshman Ralph Rizzo (Bohemia, NY) who drove in three runs.

Union's offense was on in game two as well as Zach Tillo (Lancaster, MA/ Exeter) went 3-for-5 and Kyle Murphy (Plymouth, MA/ Phillips Andover Academy) was 2-for-5. Wilson went just 1-for-4, but his triple in the fifth drove home three runs to help the Dutchmen climb back into the contest after trailing by double figures.

 

Union is back in action on Tuesday, May 1, in a 4 p.m. non-conference game at Hamilton. Union concludes the regular season with a home-and-home series of doubleheaders with Liberty League foe Skidmore on Saturday and Sunday, with play opening in Saratoga at 1 p.m. May 5.