SCHENECTADY, NY – Led by a grand slam in the fifth inning of game two by junior Greg Carlow (Mystic, CT/ Fitch), the Skidmore College baseball team swept Union College in the Dutchmen's final games of the season. The Throroughbreds collected four runs in the first inning of game one en route to an 11-0 win, and backed by four RBI from Carlow, pushed eight runs across in the fifth of the nightcap to win the game, 13-9. Union finishes the season with an 8-24 record, including a 7-16 record in Liberty League play. Skidmore finishes the regular season at 17-18 overall and with a 11-9 record in conference play, will face Rensselaer in the opening round of the Liberty League baseball championships.

 

Carlow went 4-for-9 with six RBI and three runs scored to lead the Thoroughbreds. Senior Kyle Murphy (Plymouth, MA/ Phillips Andover) went 4-for-7 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored in his final collegiate games to lead the Dutchmen. The games marked the final career games for Eric Giovannone (New Hartford, NY/ New Hartford), Matt Smith (Latham, NY/ LaSalle Institute), Carson Strang (Shaker Heights, OH/ Shaker Heights) and John Moore (Westport, MA/ Moses Brown).

 

Anthony Ferri (Jersey City, NJ/ Loomis Chaffee) led off the top of the first with a double to left then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Ferri crossed the plate on an Adam Brown (Morrisonville, NY/ Beekmantown) sac fly to right. Things got dicey as the Thoroughbreds collected three more unearned runs in the frame after Mike Salamone (Albany, NY/ Newton South (MA)) reached on a throwing error and advanced on a series of singles. With runners on the corners, Skidmore plated Rob Hutchison (Waterville, NY/ Trinity Pawling) on a double steal.

 

Skidmore batted around and added six runs on eight hits in the fifth, collecting two on a Carlow double to left field and another on a Hutchison sac fly to right. The Thoroughbreds capped the scoring of the frame when Ferri was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Ferri added an RBI in the seventh.

 

Union freshman Paul Mene (Falls Church, VA/ George Mason HS) took the mound to face the final batter of the fifth, forcing Brown to ground out to second. Mene allowed one run in the seventh, and allowed one hit in the final 2.1 innings. Union starter Matt Sheehan (Lexington, MA/ Belmont Hill) gave up 10 runs (seven earned) on 11 hits while striking out three in 4.2 innings.

 

Skidmore freshman Spencer Marcus (Scarsdale, NY/ Scarsdale) hurled his third complete game and first career shutout, allowing six hits in seven innings.

 

Skidmore jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first of game two, as Marcus, who took to center field for the nightcap, reached on a walk, stole second and then advanced to home on a series of throwing errors. Matt Pisani (Winchester, MA/ Winchester) plated one with a triple to center and Justin Morelli (East Setauket, NY/ Ward Melville) added an RBI single to short center.

 

Union retook the lead with a four-run first inning. With one out, Murphy walked and advanced to third on a Zach Tillo (Lancaster, MA/ Exeter) single to right. Pat Wilson (Cos Cob, CT/ Greenwich) plated Murphy with a short infield single. Ryan Bowes (Hamilton, NJ/ The Peddie School) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error as Murphy crossed the plate. Bowed advanced to third on a passed ball and scored, along with Brian McLaughlin (Norwood, NJ/ Old Tappan), who had reached via a walk, when Strang hit a single up the middle.

 

Union starter Dave Arouca (Wilmette, IL/ Blair Academy) allowed the Thoroughbreds to tie up the game in the top of the fourth on an Adam Cornachione (Klamath Falls, OR/ Klamath Union) RBI single, but it wasn't until the fifth inning that Skidmore exploded for eight runs to secure the game. Capped by Carlow's rocket over the left center field fence, the Thoroughbreds scored their runs on three hits, an error, a pair of wild pitches and a passed ball.

 

Skidmore added a run in the top of the eighth on a Jaffe double to left, but Union rallied to cut the visitors' lead to four runs in the bottom of the inning.

 

Bowes and McLaughlin both reached on walks, and after Giovannone flew out to right, Strang loaded the bases with a walk. With one out and the bases loaded, Moore, who DH'd in both games, doubled to left to score Bowes and McLaughlin. Murphy followed with a two-out, two-run double to left.

 

Moore finished the game on the mound for the Dutchmen, striking out two in the final inning. Colin McKelligan (Canton, MA/ Salisbury) took the loss for Union, allowing five runs (four earned) on one hit in the fifth inning.

 

Tom Gruber (Cape Elizabeth, ME/ Cape Elizabeth) earned the win for Skidmore, giving up three hits in four innings of relief.