PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – The Union College baseball team gave up a six-run lead, then climbed back within two in an 11-9 loss to St. Olaf at the South County Sports Complex Sunday afternoon. Pat Wilson (Cos Cob, Conn.) went 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored, and Shawn Johnston's (Hamilton, N.J.) two-run double in the bottom of the ninth brought the Dutchmen back within striking distance. Union, which drops to 1-2 overall, continues its Florida swing with games against Fredonia and Otterbein Monday and Tuesday.

 

After surrendering one run to the Oles (5-2) in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single through the left side by Tyler Jones, the Dutchmen responded for four runs in the bottom of the frame and then three more in the bottom of the third.

 

Wilson hit a two-run triple that bounced off the fence in deep center field, but careened popped back into play. He later crossed the plate on a balk. In the bottom of the next frame, Paul Mene (Falls Church, Va.), who had reached on a fielding error, scored on a Scott Carroll (Scituate, Mass.) double. Wilson plated Carroll with a single through the left side before scoring again on an error by Oles' second baseman after Ryan Bowes (Hamilton, N.J.) reached on a single.

 

St. Olaf responded in the top of the third, collecting four runs on five hits, including four straight singles to lead off the inning. Brian McLaughlin (Norwood, N.J.) took the mound for Union with two men on and no outs to strike out the first batter he faced before ending the threat with a pair of groundouts.

 

The Oles climbed within one in the top of the fourth when Sam Baltes scored from second on a throwing error on an attempted double play from second to first, and then tied the game in the next inning on a double steal with runners at the corners.

 

St. Olaf took a two-run lead in the top of the eighth on three hits, using small ball to advance Baltes, who reached on a single, before Todd Mathison reached on a single. Tyler Johnson plated the pair with a triple to right.

 

The Oles added to their lead in the top of the ninth with a pair of runs off of reliever Jeremy LeFebvre (Cheshire, Mass.). Josh Maus tripled and then scored on a Pat Wadzinski single before Baltes capped the scoring with a one-run homer to left field.

 

Down four runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Dutchmen mounted their comeback against reliever Paul Shrewsbury, who had taken the mound in the seventh. Wilson singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Colin McKelligan (Canton, Mass.) singled to the shortstop. Bowes loaded the bases with a dribbling single that stayed just within the infield line on the left before Johnston's two-run double dropped into center field.

 

Alex Sommer came in with one out to close out the game, first forcing a groundout and then striking out the final batter to earn the save.

 

Union starter Dave Arouca (Wilmette, Ill.) gave up nine hits and five runs in two innings, while McLaughlin suffered the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits in two innings. LeFebvre gave up two runs on a pair of hits.

 

St. Olaf starter Andy Dimick allowed seven runs (three earned) on 11 hits in six innings while striking out three. Shrewsbury earned the win, giving up two runs on six hits in 2.1 innings, while Sommer picked up the save.

 

 

St. Olaf 104 110 022 – 11 19 3

Union    430 000 002 – 9 17 5

 

St. Olaf: Dimick, Shrewsbury (6), Sommer (9.1) and Wadzinski

Union: Arouca, McLaughlin (3), LeFebvre (9) and Bowes

W: Shrewsbury (1-0)

L: McLaughlin (0-1)

S: Sommer