FORT MYERS, Fla. – The St. Lawrence University baseball team came back from a three-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Union, 4-3, in the Liberty League opener for both teams at Terry Park Saturday morning. The seven-inning game was scheduled to be the first of a doubleheader, but the second game was rained out.

 

Pat Wilson (Cos Cob, Conn.) hit a two-run home run to right center in the first inning to give Union an early lead, and solid pitching by Matt Sheehan (Lexington, Mass.) kept St. Lawrence (5-5, 1-0) at bay until the bottom of the seventh.

 

The Dutchmen edged ahead to a 3-0 lead in the top of the seventh on an Andy Brown (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) double down the right field line that plated Shawn Johnston (Hamilton, N.J.) who got on with a walk and advanced on a failed pickoff attempt.

 

In the bottom of the seventh, Sheehan loaded the bases on three consecutive singles before giving way to reliever Colin McKelligan (Canton, Mass.). After a Dan Ludwig two-run double, Ryan Duff reached on a walk to reload the bases. Sean Voss hit the ball right to Union shortstop Brown who flicked it to Scott Carroll (Scituate, Mass.) for the potential game-ending double-play, but Duff and Carroll got tangled up as Tim Harris and Ludwig crossed the plate for the win.

 

Steve Bodnar went the distance for the Saints, earning the win with three earned runs of five hits with six strikeouts. Sheehan struck out five in 6.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits. McKelligan suffered the loss with one earned run on one hit and a walk.

 

Union continues its Florida trip on Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. game against St. Olaf at the South Charlotte County Park in Punta Gorda.